Almost 150 years ago, President Lincoln spoke at Fort Lyon, just a few steps from what we know today as the Huntington Metro in the Fairfax County portion of Alexandria. This afternoon, in nearly the same spot, Tim Kaine, governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, also spoke before an assembled crowd.
Kaine is the presumptive Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Jim Webb, who announced he will retire at the end of his first term. The event, held at 5914 N. Kings Highway, opened the Virginia Democrats’ Coordinated Campaign Headquarters.
A crowd of about 300 welcomed Kaine, who was celebrating his 54th birthday. Drawing distinctions between himself and his likely opponent, George Allen, Kaine spoke for about 20 minutes. He accented the diversity among Democrats in the state, and criticized Allen and Republicans for policies that divide.
A small space in a strip mall must have seemed an odd choice, but as a campaign spokesperson explained, the close proximity of Metro was a major factor. Kaine supports public transportation.
Virginia will hold both primaries on June 12th.
The presumed race between Kaine and Allen, deadlocked in recent polls, is heating up. Today’s Washington Examiner splashed the headline – “Social Issues Stir Up Virginia Senate Race.”
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