“Unconventional announcement: Tim Kaine tells a Richmond class he is running for Senate.”
Sabato adds, “Kaine-Allen will be 1 of half-dozen top ’12 Senate races. Appears close at starting gate. Who knows what twists and turns contest will take?”
Also, blogger Rick Sincere tweets “Tim Kaine tells UR class he is candidate for US Senator reports WINA.”
I’m waiting for more details, confirmation of this news (or should I say “news?”), etc.
UPDATE: @HotlineJosh tweets, “One top adviser in Kaine inner circle: “First I’ve heard” about Senate “announcement” at URichmond.”
UPDATE #2: Peter Hamby of CNN tweets, “@LarrySabato have you verified that? a lot of smart politicos in Virginia have not.” Also, “re: Kaine – everyone is citing a tweet that hasn’t been confirmed.” I’m starting to doubt this story.
UPDATE #3: Jennifer Epstein of Politico tweets, “V[ery] convoluted story on Kaine and #VASEN. UR student called WINA to say two of his friends told him that Kaine told their class he’s running.” Looking less and less likely by the minute…
UPDATE #4: Reporter Michael Shear tweets, “@larrysabato tweet about Kaine running based on local radio caller, he says. Guy named greg called in to say friends told him kaine running.” Hmmmmmm.
UPDATE #5: My god, this is a complete and utter FAIL (not to mention a joke – the rightwing Schilling Show, no less)!
A University of Richmond student has been told that former governor Tim Kaine has said he WILL run for the U.S. Senate. A caller named Greg phoned the Schilling Show on Newsradio 1070 WINA early Monday afternoon and said he has two friends taking the class that Kaine teaches at the UR Jepson School. Kaine reportedly told the class that he will seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being left vacant by Jim Webb. Greg says his friends told him that Kaine acknowledged that he has yet to make an official announcement, but he did tell the class that he is running. Kaine teaches the leadership class every Monday at the the Jepson School.
FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL. FAIL.
UPDATE #6: Reporter Adam Rhew tweets, “DNC out w/ statement on kaine, says comments came in response to a student question, kaine said he’s leaning toward a run, no final decision.”
UPDATE #7: Here’s the DNC press release, courtesy of The Shad Plank blog.
In response to a student’s question, Governor Kaine told his law school class today what is already widely known which is that he is increasingly likely to run. However, no final decision will be made or announced until the governor has had a final round of consultations with folks about how he can best serve the President, the people and the causes he cares about; he is assured that the Democratic Party will be in good hands should he choose to make the race and leave the DNC; he has the support that would be necessary to mount a successful campaign and he completes commitments for travel and fundraising he has made to the Party and the President through at least the end of the month.
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