Tim Kaine Announces For Senate (UPDATE: Resigns as DNC chair, GOP, Kaine and Scott respond)

By Jason Kenney | Tuesday, April 5th, 2011 | Politics

Former Governor and DNC Chairman Tim Kaine announced his candidacy for US Senate today with a video announcementF on his website:

His campaign site is here. The record he embraces is here.

Update: Kaine also stepped down as DNC chair (via Blue Virginia):

April 5, 2011
Dear DNC Members,

I am writing to let you know that I have just announced my decision to run for the U.S. Senate from the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2012. To that end, I am stepping down as DNC Chair, effective immediately. In the coming days, I will share some thoughts on my decision to run, my appreciation for the opportunity you gave me to serve as your Chair, and what we were able to accomplish together. In the meantime, I am sure you will be as supportive of the President’s choice to replace me as you have been of me for the past two years. There will be more information about this important transition to follow. I will treasure the friendships I’ve made during my time at the DNC, and hope that we will maintain those friendships in the years ahead. It is an exciting time for the DNC. It is also an exciting next chapter for my family and me, as I embark down a new path on which I hope to serve as one of Virginia’s U.S. Senators. Thank you for your hard work and support along the way and for all that you will do in the months and years ahead.

With gratitude,

Tim Kaine

Update 2: RPV responds:

Virginia Leaders: “We Can’t Afford Tim Kaine”

–Virginia officials who have worked with Chairman Kaine are unanimous: Tax-and-Spend Kaine is the wrong person for the U.S. Senate –

Statement of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli:

“Our nation is facing some tough problems and we need a Senator who will work to lower taxes, a person with a track record of reducing the the size of government, and who will find ways to help grow our economy.

Unfortunately, those principles are not ones that Tim Kaine shares. As Governor he worked to raise taxes, increase the size of our government, and as President Obama’s top cheerleader, he has supported every effort to grow the size of our federal government while raising our national debt to record levels.

During Tim Kaine’s term as Governor, transportation problems in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads just kept getting worse. Virginians spent hours sitting in traffic while he argued that we needed to raise taxes (in an unconstitutional manner) to fix the problem. But once he left office and audits of VDOT were conducted we learned that Tim Kaine left of $1 billion sitting at VDOT instead of fixing our roads. That’s not the kind of leadership we need in Washington. Virginians deserve much better than Tim Kaine.”

Statement of Senate Republican Leader Thomas K. Norment, R-James City County:

“In the past two elections, Virginians have repudiated the policies of the Obama administration. Republicans are enthusiastic and will unite to take back the Virginia Senate in 2011 and the open U.S. Senate seat in 2012. Our voters will show over the next two years that the politics of the Democratic National Committee are not the politics of Virginia.”

Statement of Senate Republican Whip Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg:

“Since becoming Democratic National Committee Chairman, Tim Kaine has been America’s cheerleader-in-chief for the Obama takeover of healthcare, record-breaking deficit spending, and for his job-killing cap-and-trade scheme. Virginians rejected these policies in the 2009 and 2010 elections, and they’ll do it again in 2012.”

Statement of House Majority Leader Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights:

“We need a Senator who will work to help lower taxes, reduce the size of government, and find ways to help grow our economy. Unfortunately for Virginia, those aren’t the ideals that Tim Kaine believes in.

Tim Kaine has consistently tried to raise taxes and make government bigger, not smaller. As Cheerleader-in-Chief, he has supported every effort to grow the size of our federal government while raising our national debt to record levels. Virginians cannot afford to have Tim Kaine as our Senator.”

Statement of House Deputy Majority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock:

“I find it interesting that Governor Kaine has decided to return to Virginia and seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. For the past two years he has been working hard in Washington and around the country defending President Obama’s policies that are taking away our healthcare choices and promoting skyrocketing debt.

Most recently, he has been leading the effort to support public employee union protests in Wisconsin. Those certainly are not Virginia values, and I believe that Virginia voters will soon learn that the Tim Kaine who is the head cheerleader for the policies of the far-left Obama administration is not they Tim Kaine they thought they knew when he left us.”

Statement of RPV Chariman Pat Mullins:

“For the past two years Tim Kaine has been President Obama’s biggest advocate in Washington. From the failed stimulus packages, to the budget busting spending bills that have increased our national debt at record levels, Tim Kaine has been there every step of the way making the case for a bigger and more intrusive federal government.

Now he wants to return to Virginia to run for the U.S. Senate. I do not believe the people of Virginia want another big spending Senator in Washington, and that is exactly what Tim Kaine would be. They want someone who will work to cut spending, reduce the size and scope of the federal government, and bring fiscal responsibility to congress.”

Update 3: George Allen responds:

Statement from George Allen for U.S. Senate Campaign

Richmond, VA – Katie Wright, Director of Communications for the George Allen for U.S. Senate campaign released the following statement on DNC Chairman Tim Kaine’s entry into the U.S. Senate race:

“After being convinced by his liberal allies in Washington to run, Chairman Kaine’s announcement today sets up a clear contrast for the families of Virginia. Whether comparing records and ideas for the future on job creation and innovation, tax and regulatory policy, energy, or protecting Virginia’s right to work laws, the differences are clear.

“George Allen stands for responsible, smarter government and helping families keep more of what they earn. Allen made job creation his number one priority, resulting in a record number of private sector jobs and investment in Virginia. He also worked to keep the Internet free of taxation while sponsoring meaningful reforms for Washington like the balanced budget amendment, line-item veto authority and paycheck penalty for Congress.

“While Chairman Kaine may try to paint a different picture of his tenure as Governor, it was marked by his proposals calling for staggering tax increases and by substantial job losses for Virginians. As Chairman, Kaine stood with his liberal Washington allies like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi as they imposed their harmful agenda on Virginia and America, making trillion dollar deficits the norm and loading our children with the burden of an unprecedented national debt.

“Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid may be friends of Chairman Kaine, but they are no friends of Virginia families and job-creating business owners. While we know he will look to his Washington allies for help and guidance in his campaign, George Allen will continue to listen to the families of Virginia and work hard to earn the right to represent their voices, views and values in the U.S. Senate.”

Update 4: Radtke’s tweeted response (Now updated with official media release that came to the blogs second hand):

Kaine’s record will speak for itself on the campaign trail, and he will have a tough sell.less than a minute ago via HootSuite   Favorite | Retweet | ReplyJamie Radtke
jamieradtke

Statement from U.S. Senate Candidate Jamie Radtke Regarding Tim Kaine’s Campaign Announcement

“Tim Kaine was one of the first supporters of Barack Obama for president, and supported every one of Obama’s expensive, disastrous policies, from ObamaCare to the massive stimulus bill. And as governor, Kaine literally misplaced one billion dollars in VDOT money, and his campaign priority was transportation! The financial changes we need in Washington won’t come from career politicians. To bring America back to greatness, we must look forward to a new generation of leaders who will make the hard decisions.”

Bearing Drift covered the VDOT audit’s findings of $1.45 billion unspent dollars while Kaine was crying transportation funding wolf here and here.

Update 5: Tim Kaine preemptively replied back in February:

Update 6: And just in case you thought Kaine’s road was clear, remember that Rep. Bobby Scott hasn’t ruled out a run yet:

Spokesman for @RepBobbyScott said that he has “no comment” on Kaine announcement and will still decide on his own #VASen run by 7-1-11.less than a minute ago via web   Favorite | Retweet | ReplyRyan Nobles
ryanobles

Update: Senate candidate David McCormick responds:

McCormick Responds to Kaine Entering Race

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA– We offer our congratulations to former Governor Kaine on his decision to run for the US Senate. We remain fully focused on the Republican Primary at this time and will continue to lead and speak out on the right ideas and solutions to America’s greatest challenges.

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