Kaine now official Democratic Senate nominee

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From The Roanoke Times

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Former Gov. Tim Kaine is the Democratic nominee for the state’s U.S. Senate race.

The Democratic Party of Virginia today informed the Virginia state board of elections that Kaine has been certified as the nominee for the Nov. 6 election.

The Republican Party of Virginia, meanwhile, is still determining how many candidates will appear on the June 12 primary ballot.

Thus far, former Gov. George Allen, Chesterfield tea party activist Jamie Radtke and state Del. Bob Marshall have all qualified.

The party is still in the process of verifying the 11,188 signatures submitted Thursday by Chesapeake minister E.W. Jackson.

As for Kaine, “Virginians could not ask for a better leader to represent them in the U.S. Senate, and Democrats could not ask for a better candidate to lead us to victory this November,” said party Chairman Brian Moran.

Two other Democrats, Julien Modica and Courtney Lynch, had initially announced their candidacies but bowed out before petitions were due Thursday, endorsing Kaine.

Anne Holton, Kaine’s wife, earlier this week delivered 30,866 petitions to the state board of elections.

That is more than triple the number (10,000) required to qualify.

“The Democratic Party of Virginia has already begun laying the groundwork for the largest grassroots campaign effort in Virginia history,” Moran said.

“We are eager to do everything we can to support Governor Kaine and make sure he is victorious over whichever Republican candidate emerges from their divisive primary battle.”

You can read the rest of this article at: http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/306859