Perriello Will Run for Senate, If…

…if and only if Tim Kaine does not run:

“It’s obviously nice when people say that,” Perriello said. “I think it’s meant to be a compliment. At the same time I join many others in hoping Tim Kaine will step up in this spot. … He’d be a great choice.”

And if Kaine doesn’t run, Perriello said, “I will consider it. Part of what I’m asking as a question is whether you can make more of an impact on people’s lives from inside the system or outside the system.”

The WaPo piece goes to great lengths arguing that Perriello is too liberal to win, and that Kaine being a moderate (?!) would stand a better chance of winning a statewide election, though the best refutation of this comes from… Tom Perriello:

Perriello said he doesn’t believe there’s any one formula for a winning Democratic campaign in Virginia.

“I think pundits often overthink the ‘profiles,’” he said. “I think voters are often smart enough to have a gut reaction to the candidates, to say, ‘Here’s a guy who shares my values and can get things done.’

…or “I might disagree with this guy, but I can still get a beer with him.”

Should former Governor Tim Kaine run, consider this race over and done with.  Kaine is wildly unpopular among Republicans, did not leave a good reputation behind him in Richmond, and has a few… um, skeletons in the closet, let’s say.

Still, Perriello was gracious enough to give Kaine time to think about things.  Very gracious indeed.

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About the author

Shaun Kenney

Shaun Kenney is the Chairman of the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors, former Communications Director for the Republican Party of Virginia, and an active blogger since 2002. Shaun lives in Thomas Jefferson's backyard with his wife, six children, and a modest attempt at a farm in Kents Store, Virginia.