Kaine Heads to Iowa to Stump for Obama

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) will spend the weekend stumping in Iowa for Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Kaine will attend a series of coffees and small meetings for Obama in Cedar Rapids, Vinton, Waverly, Charles City, Osage, Mason City, Algona, Fort Dodge and Webster City. Iowa holds its first-in-the-nation nominating caucus Jan. 3.

Kaine will be traveling by himself, meaning he will be the top draw and the main messenger for Obama at each location.

"In Virginia and the rest of our great nation, people from across the political spectrum are excited by Senator Obama's commitment to uniting our country to make progress on the issues that matter to everyday Americans," said Kaine. "Barack Obama is the best candidate to lead America because he has the experience we need to challenge the conventional thinking in Washington and bring us together to work towards common goals."

In February, Kaine became one of the first sitting governor's in the country to endorse Obama's candidacy. Kaine serves as a national co-chairman of Obama's campaign. Kaine and Obama, who first met during the governor's 2005 campaign, both attended Harvard. Obama's mother is from Kansas, where Kaine also grew up.

In a statement, Obama's campaign said Kaine has proven he can win and govern in a traditionally red state.

"Governor Tim Kaine will travel to Iowa to discuss why Senator Obama is the best candidate to move our country past red state and blue state divides and unite us on the values we share," the statement said.