Tim Kaine
-
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Tim Kaine introduced President Barack Obama Thursday in Richmond by emphasizing the importance of Virginians’ votes in the upcoming election.
“Even a little bit more than four years ago, presidential candidates, they didn’t come to Virginia,” Kaine said to the estimated crowd of 15,000. “Republican candidates … didn’t need to come to Virginia and Democratic candidates said, ‘Why bother coming to Virginia?’ President Obama changed that in 2008 and he’s changed it so that now that everybody that’s running for president of any party has got to come because Virginians are important.”
Virginia was one of the stops on the President’s 48-hour blitz trip across six swing states with a stop in Chicago to cast his advance ballot. On Wednesday, Obama visited Iowa, Colorado and Nevada. Today, the president came to Virginia from Florida and still had stops in Ohio in Illinois before the two-day tour was over.
The state will also host appearances from Gov. Mitt Romney and both candidates’ runningmates in the next few days.
See The 12’s coverage of Obama’s visit to Colorado during his two-day tour here.
-
Virginia Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen released a new ad attacking Democratic candidate Tim Kaine’s past and proposed tax policies. Last week during a debate in McLean, Va., Kaine said he “would be open to a proposal to have some minimum tax level for everyone.” (via The Richmond Times-Dispatch)
-
“
It shouldn’t be news that somebody who wants to go into the Senate is willing to start from a position of openness and dialogue. We can’t start with non-negotiable.”
- Virginia U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine (D) during a debate against Republican candidate George Allen on Thursday, Sept. 20 in McLean, Va. Kaine and Allen both tried to stay as bipartisan as possible during the debate, focusing on decreasing the national debt while avoiding cuts to the military budget. (via The Richmond Times-Dispatch) -
While polls show President Obama has a lead in Virginia, the U.S. Senate race between Tim Kaine (D) and George Allen (R) has been tied for more than a year. Recent polls show that Allen and Kaine are both tied at 46 percent, with 8 percent of voters undecided.
For the undecided voters, both Kaine and Allen have started pursuing a more bipartisan tone in their campaigns leading up to their final three debates. (via The Richmond times-Dispatch)
-
Women’s vote could make the difference in key battleground state
With the presidential election less than two months away, President Obama leads Mitt Romney by five points in Virginia in the most recent NBC/Marist poll.
In Virginia, Real Clear Politics polls show that Obama has held a small lead over Romney for most of the campaign until the beginning of September, when the gap diminished, leaving between one and two points between each candidate.
Some political analysts say that Obama holds on to the minority vote in Virginia and perhaps more importantly, considering some of the state’s recent proposed legislation, he also holds on to the women vote.
According to the U.S. Census, women make up almost exactly half of Virginia’s population, but after the state’s most recent General Assembly session, women’s rights issues became a hot-button topic for many voters.
-
According to a poll released Wednesday, Virginia’s two Senate candidates, former Governors George Allen and Tim Kaine virtually tied. Kaine (D) stands at 48 percent, while Allen (R), is at 46 percent.
The poll also shows Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) holding a 52% approval rating.
In Wisconsin, all three Republican candidates vying to chanllenge Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) for the open Senate seat are running close to one another. That primary is next Tuesday.
-
Following their endorsement of former Sen. George Allen in the Virginia Senate race on Wednesday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce aired a new ad attacking Allen’s opponent, Tim Kaine (D).
The Washington Times described the ad:
The Virginia ad says the “Kaine train” would “derail” Virginia’s economy with “big government policies,” and notes his support for President Obama’s healthcare reform.
The expenditure [on this and other campaign ads] is unusual because it comes from a nonprofit group rather than a political committee, and it is by far the largest of its kind this election cycle.
-
KAINE on guns: “ought to be reasonable about” kind of weapons and ammo people can buy; calls for better gunshow checks #vadebate
— Robert Yoon (@yoonCNN) July 21, 2012ALLEN on gun violence: “”solution is not to take away the rights of law abiding citizens” #vadebate
— Robert Yoon (@yoonCNN) July 21, 2012 -
Instagram photos taken by Samra Khawaja
Conservative group Americans for Prosperity targeted Senate candidate Tim Kaine (D) in Richmond Friday afternoon while on a bus tour across Virginia.
As the speakers took turns taunting the Supreme Court’s ruling on health care as well as Kaine’s economic policies, a group of liberal protestors stood outside the conservative-owned pub where the rally took place to welcome the group.
The AFP speakers, including Mechanicsville, Va. Tea Party chair Gary Baugh and Fox News contributor Kate Obenshain, encouraged supporters to continue exercising grass-root efforts to reach out to voters as they “fight for change.” AFP launched a $9 million ad Friday attacking President Obama and the healthcare law.
The group will make their final stop in Loudoun, Va. on Saturday morning.
-
Former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) launched two television ads targeting women and independents on Thursday, as his race with former Gov. Tim Kaine (D) heats up.
Allen’s ads follow one from President Obama that aired this week in Virginia, which also focused on women.
Earlier in May a poll conducted by the Washington Post showed Kaine held a seven-point lead among women voters. In another ABC News/Washington Post poll conducted in May, Obama also held a seven-point advantage with women over Romney.
Neither of the ads mention their opponents.
Update: Where Virginia stands
Senate races locked up in Virginia, Wisconsin
U.S. Chamber endorses Allen, goes on air
Gun Control Questioned During Virginia Senate Debate
About The 12
The 12 is a group Tumblr of The Washington Post and student journalists in 12 battleground states documenting the 2012 presidential election and capturing perspectives of young voters.
Submit your ideas
Do you have interesting news, notes, quotes, campaign materials or multimedia that we should feature? Do you have something to report about young voters?
Contributors to The 12
amzam
ngjennings
ryankellett
slcarothers
washingtonpostpolitics
alison-noon
cpozernick
haleykmetz
jakepdeschuiteneer
lagore2012
mechellehankerson
news-junkie
rileyjsnyder
sarahglen
tessafox
thatgoeshere
thejadedouso
themizzou12
tylerborchers
ymgonzal
zachtilly
