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Minnesota Senator Reflects on Tim Kaine's Newfound Celebrity Status

Sandy Hausman / WVTF

Virginia’s junior senator made such a splash at Wednesday’s convention of Democrats that other states are laying claim to him and offering advice to Virginia’s senior senator.

While Tim Kaine has lived and served in Virginia for decades, he grew up in Kansas City and was born in St. Paul, so Minnesota’s senior senator Amy Klobuchar told Virginia’s delegation that her state is proud to claim him.

She then offered some advice to Senator Mark Warner, who will continue to serve alongside Kaine through Election Day. Illinois’ Dick Durbin and New York’s Chuck Schumer had done that for her when Al Franken became Minnesota’s junior senator.

“This isn’t going to be as easy as you think. The other Senator being a celebrity, and I said, ‘What do you mean?’ and Durbin says, ‘Well I’ve had Barack Obama,’ and Schumer says, ‘I’ve had Hillary Clinton.’  You’re walking through the airport with the other senator, and all of a sudden someone says, ‘Hey you!’ And I was like, ‘Yes?’  And they said, ‘Could you take my picture with that guy?’”

Klobuchar recalled one flight from D.C. to Minneapolis on Delta.

“Franken and I get on the flight filled with Minnesotans, but the flight attendants are from Atlanta, so we get on, and the flight attendant picks up the microphone and she says, ‘Everyone, I’ve got exciting news for you. We have got celebrities on the plane! We have Mr. and Mrs. Al Franken!’ And Al is like, ‘No, no. She is actually the other senator from Minnesota,’ and she says, ‘How cool is this? Husband and wife senators!’”

Tim Kaine grew up in Kansas City, which will, no doubt, be claiming him too. At the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Sandy Hausman is Radio IQ's Charlottesville Bureau Chief
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