A national uproar ensued after University of Richmond student, Gray Delany, called WINA’s The Schilling Show on Monday, to report some breaking news. Delany conveyed that former Governor Tim Kaine reportedly told students in his leadership studies class that he was going to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Jim Webb.
Kaine’s impromptu announcement, independently confirmed to Delany by two witnessing students, caused an Internet storm after the news was tweeted by political scientist, Larry Sabato.
Shortly after Delany’s initial call to The Schilling Show, in a broad media release the Democratic National Committee felt compelled to quash the “rumor” by characterizing Kaine as having said he’s “increasingly likely” to run:
“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.”
A Tuesday follow up call to The Schilling Show (audio below) confirmed the original story. Delany reiterated that Governor Kaine had responded to a student’s question on whether Kaine would run for the open Senate seat, and Kaine’s answer was definitive: “I’m going to give it a shot.”
Delany provided additional detail in the Tuesday call, stating Kaine told the small group of students who had gathered after class that he was going to announce his candidacy upon return from an impending trip to China.
Hear Gray Delany’s follow up call to The Schilling Show:
[audio:https://www.schillingshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Gray-Delaney-Call-2.mp3]
