While many were preparing to tailgate for the football season opener, some University of Virginia students decided to wake up early to meet U.S. Senate candidate and former Virginia governor, Timothy Kaine. The University Democrats sponsored the free meet and greet breakfast with Kaine and Virginia Democratic Party Chair Brian Moran at Jefferson Hall on the UVA campus.

Courtesy of Rex Young

As he was speaking to a college population, Kaine stressed how important involvement in politics especially from college-aged students is essential especially in the state of Virginia where there is an election every year. He encouraged the democratic crowd to help hold some control of Virginia. The Republican Party is holding the governor’s seat and the majority in the House of Delegates while the State Senate is being held by a mere two votes by the Democratic Party.

Charlottesville was just one of the stops on Kaine’s tour in a few democratic areas for the Labor Day weekend as part of his campaign tour for the 2012 election against another former governor, George Allen. Kaine felt that he felt like he wanted to continue giving back to the Commonwealth and that serving in the U.S. Senate was the best way.

Also speaking was Moran, who spoke mainly about the state races and after many questions, about controversial Attorney General Ken Cucinelli. Moran stressed that had Cucinelli never won his State Senate seat, he would never have been prompted to run for Attorney General. He did not want students and voters to overlook these seemingly unimportant state senate races.

University Democrats president Rex Young stressed that the group will “intend to do what [they’ve] done every year in fulfilling the Governor’s and Chairman’s urging that students get involved.” University Democrats meetings are on Wednesday at 6pm in Clark 107.

Courtesy of Rex Young