CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Just as in Richmond at his first campaign kickoff for a 3rd term, Senator Tim Kaine’s kickoff in Charlottesville at the CODE Building had protestors supporting Palestine. Kaine told protestors he would speak to them after the event as security personnel generally spoke to them, but didn’t necessarily remove them. Speaking to media afterwards, he essentially said this is part of the gig. He did speak to a few after the event among a number of people who he chatted with. Kaine said one needs to hear these people on what is an extremely hard issue, and that informs his thoughts. Kaine said Israel has a right to defend itself, and Palestinians have a right to live and a right to a future with autonomy they were promised in 1948.

He said he doesn’t even know who his Republican opponent will be, but said the Republican Party has become the party of Trump whose intent is to tear everything down.