Tim Kaine’s nomination for vice president turned the national spotlight on Richmond faculty.
Press outlets across the country noted Kaine’s current part-time continuing faculty appointment at Richmond Law and the Jepson School of Leadership Studies. He joined the Richmond Law faculty in 1987 and taught for six years before he was elected to public office. Since then, he has taught occasionally and regularly participates in events and symposia.
The Washington Post, in a story distributed nationally, turned to political science professor Dan Palazzolo, who predicted Kaine would do well in debates and interviews. “He has a broad range of governing experience, most importantly,” Palazzolo said. “I don’t think that should be understated, especially this year.”
He also spoke with NBC News, telling them that political opponents are unlikely to turn up any Kaine-related scandals. “There are no skeletons in his closet,” Palazzolo said. “I don’t know if you know about some of these politicians in Virginia. Some have a seedy past. None of that is going to happen with Tim Kaine.”
For NPR, Palazzolo discussed criticism by some Democrats that Kaine is too centrist. “I think it suggests just how far the liberal wing of the party has gone, and how aggressive they are about their demands,” he said.
Thad Williamson, a professor in the Jepson School, called Kaine’s selection “a bold choice” in an op-ed that ran in the Philadelphia Inquirer during the Democratic National Convention. “Kaine is best understood as a committed social justice advocate ... intent on not just being right but being effective” during his political career in the city of Richmond and in Virginia, he wrote.