In accordance with expectations, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) threw his support behind former Virginia governor Tim Kaine as Webb put his name on Veterans for Kaine[1], a list of over 100 veterans and military family members in Virginia who are backing Virginia’s former governor.
Correction. Contrary to an original statement I made regarding Sen. Webb's willingness to campaign for Gov. Kaine, it appears that Sen. Webb will be on the stump for the senate candidate after all. At the moment, no scheduled events with Sen. Webb have been made.
Kaine has commented that he will work towards picking up on military and veteran issues[2] where Sen. Webb has been such a key player. Can anyone imagine George Allen doing the same?
While Senator Webb will be missed as a leader and critical voice in the U.S. Senate, Tim Kaine stands to add more visibility to Virginia’s role in the upper chamber of Congress. Webb’s penchant for avoiding public engagements as a senator will most likely not be repeated by Tim Kaine.
Perhaps this was a refreshing aspect of Sen. Webb, his obvious disinterest in playing the game of politics-as-usual. Even though Webb took some controversial votes in the Senate, he was always straightforward and his integrity could hardly be questioned.
A true patriot, scholar, and political leader, Webb will leave Kaine a difficult spot to fill in the U.S. Senate. But for anyone who remembers Kaine’s time as governor of Virginia, he is more than up to the challenge.
[1] http://www.kaineforva.com/news/sen._jim_webb_and_virginia_veterans_launc...
[2] http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/virginia-politics/post/hundreds-watc...
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