Kaine Visits Alexandria Seaport Foundation

Tim Kaine says there are still undecided voters to be had in the final days of his campaign for U.S. Senate, while the primary focus shifts toward getting out the vote on Tuesday.

“With the undecided voters, we find they’re really looking for someone who can break the gridlock,” the Democrat said Thursday morning at the Alexandria Seaport Foundation workshop at the foot of Duke Street in Old Town. “I think I’ve shown I am someone who does that. …Our closing message ads show that I am someone who can do that.”

In the ad, Kaine promises to bring “more partnership and less partisanship to Washington” to reduce the debt, to invest in schools and small businesses and to grown the middle class and create jobs.

The former Virginia governor started the day in Alexandria before making campaign stops in Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Lynchburg and Roanoke with current Virginia Sen. Mark Warner (D) with just five days before Election Day.

A poll released Sunday by The Washington Post showed Kaine holding a 51-44 edge over Republican opponent George Allen among likely voters in the most expensive Senate race this election season.

Allen made a stop in Old Town on Oct. 1 for an economic roundtable discussion.

Kaine said the Alexandria Seaport Foundation, which uses traditional boat building to help at-risk and disadvantaged youth acquire job skills and secure career-path jobs, is an example of improving what he calls the “talent” end of career and technical education programs.

He told ASF members that the Duke Street facility was reminiscent of a shop that was park of the school he worked in as a missionary in Honduras in the 1980s.

Kaine said technical education programs are critical in growing the economy in the United States.

“We have to put people in technical education programs where they can succeed,” he said. “We used to do a lot more of that and I think we’re now getting back to that and seeing good enthusiasm.”