Just hours after his opponent George Allen won the GOP nomination in the Virginia U.S. Senate race, former Gov. and Democratic nominee Tim Kaine announced commitments to eight debates Wednesday morning in the run up to the Nov. 6 general election.
Kaine, who did not have a primary opponent and sat out Tuesday's elections, has committed to a series of debates across sponsored by a number of different organizations. While the exact dates have not been set for all the events, all of those listed will be broadcast on television or radio.
“The stakes in this election are extremely high and all Virginians deserve an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates on issues of regional, state, and national importance,” said Brandi Hoffine, communications director for the Kaine campaign. “Our priority is to participate in enough broadcast debates so that all Virginians get a chance to compare the candidates side-by-side. We look forward to working with George Allen’s campaign to make sure that happens."
Just coming off breezing to an easy primary win Allen, the former governor who is trying to win back the U.S. Senate seat he lost to retireing Sen. Jim Webb in 2006, has not yet been able to make his own commitments.
The Allen campaign wasn't contacted about the possible head-to-heads until nearly two hours after the Kaine campaign released their commitments to the media early Wednesday morning.
Allen campaign spokeswoman Emily Davis said the campaign will release debate commitments in coming weeks.
“In addition to meeting with Virginians face to face throughout the Commonwealth, we of course look forward to debates this fall to contrast our records," Davis said "If (former Democratic National Committee) Chairman Kaine had a record of listening to Virginians more and talking at them less he would understand that Virginians don't regard year after year of over 8 percent national unemployment as ‘doing fine’ and don't regard Obamacare as a ‘great achievement.’”
The Kaine campaign said it is considering other debates besides the list put out Wednesday and will make additional announcements in the weeks to come.
Here is the full list of debates Kaine has committed to so far:
Radio One 2012 Senatorial Forum: Richmond, Late August (date and venue TBD). Broadcast on Radio One stations (TV broadcast TBD).
WJLA-TV, POLITICO and Virginia FREE: Arlington Campus, George Mason University. September 14. Broadcast live on WJLA in DC, and available to ABC affiliates throughout Virginia.
Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and NBC4: Capital One Tysons Corner Complex, McLean. September 20. Broadcast live on NBC 4 in DC, and rebroadcast on Sunday, September 23.
Randolph-Macon College, The Richmond Times Dispatch and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce: Randolph-Macon College, Ashland. October Date TBD. Broadcast on media partners WWBT NBC-12 and WCVE Community Ideas Stations in Richmond.
WSLS-TV and Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech campus, Blacksburg. October date TBD. Broadcast live on WSLS-TV and made available to other television stations statewide.
Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce: Norfolk, October 18 or 19 (TBD). Broadcast live on WVEC-TV (ABC affiliate) and to be rebroadcast at a later date TBD.
League of Women Voters of Virginia and AARP Virginia: WCVE Studios, Midlothian. October 8. Broadcast on CBS-6 in Richmond and WCVE-TV (PBS).
Virginia State Conference NAACP: Fredericksburg, October 26. Broadcast on WWBT NBC-12 in Richmond.
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