Kaine won’t back away from Obama. Not even an inch

The move among some Democratic legislators to distance themselves from the President during the run-up to last week’s elections doesn’t extend to Tim Kaine. The all but certain Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Jim Webb intends to plant himself at Mr Obama’s side:

“I’m not backing off an inch,” Kaine said in a meeting last week with The Virginian-Pilot.

Kaine, who was a pivotal early supporter of Obama’s 2008 candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, said he and the president disagree on some issues, including Obama’s decision to attack Libya without congressional approval. But on the whole, he said the president “is doing a good job under very tough circumstances.”

One shudders to think what a bad job would look like. Still, Kaine has given himself a bit of wiggle room, which could become a gulf should the President’s fortunes decline further. But don’t count on that.

And as for the Republican candidates seeking to challenge Kaine in the general election: Merry Christmas…you just got the gift of a political lifetime.

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About the author

Norman Leahy

Norm Leahy has written about Virginia and national politics online since 2002, beginning with One Man's Trash (OMT), and continuing through Bacon's Rebellion (both the blog and the e-zine), Sic Semper Tyrannis, NBC12's Decision Virginia, Richmond.com and Tertium Quids. He is the chief blogger at "The Score" and a producer of "The Score" radio show as well as being a Washington Examiner contributor.