Tim Kaine’s 2-hour commute turned into a day-long dangerous drive
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
As traffic piled up on I-95 in Virginia on Monday, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine was trying to get back to the Capitol in Washington, D.C. after the holiday recess. He ended up stuck in his car over a 27-hour period, when the trip should have only taken him two hours, and used intuitive survival methods to keep himself warm and healthy, as so many other drivers had to do during that time.
When Kaine, who was Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential running mate in 2016, finally made it to work he told ABC News he just wanted to eat. “I did it — 26 hours and 45 minutes. I am beat and I am very hungry,” he said, explaining he only had one soft drink and an orange with him for the trip. He also explained what he had to do to survive. “I was freezing,” Kaine said. “It was about 11 or 12 degrees last night and you can’t just run the car all night long sitting still or you run out of gas, which you need for the next morning, so you kind of have to run the car for 10 minutes to heat it up then turn it off for an hour and then it gets cold again.”
Tim Kaine chronicled his ordeal on social media
Bloomberg/Getty Images
While in his car for nearly 27 hours, Tim Kaine took to Twitter to explain what was happening and also offer a way to help people. “I started my normal 2 hour drive to DC at 1pm yesterday. 19 hours later, I’m still not near the Capitol. My office is in touch with @VaDOT to see how we can help other Virginians in this situation. Please stay safe everyone,” he tweeted.
In another tweet, he urged anyone in an emergency situation to get help. “I’m frustrated, but not in serious trouble. If you are in trouble on Virginia roads today, call @VaDOT at 1-800-FOR-ROAD.” When Kaine’s long and perilous traffic ordeal was over and he was finally in DC, he tweeted that it was time to get to work. “Ok after 27 hours on the road from Richmond to DC, very happy to be back in the Capitol and working on voting rights legislation this afternoon.”
Why One Senator’s 27-Hour Journey On I-95 Has The Internet Buzzing
Pool/Getty Images
By Hope Campbell/Jan. 5, 2022 12:46 pm EST
Tim Kaine’s 2-hour commute turned into a day-long dangerous drive
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
As traffic piled up on I-95 in Virginia on Monday, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine was trying to get back to the Capitol in Washington, D.C. after the holiday recess. He ended up stuck in his car over a 27-hour period, when the trip should have only taken him two hours, and used intuitive survival methods to keep himself warm and healthy, as so many other drivers had to do during that time.
When Kaine, who was Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential running mate in 2016, finally made it to work he told ABC News he just wanted to eat. “I did it — 26 hours and 45 minutes. I am beat and I am very hungry,” he said, explaining he only had one soft drink and an orange with him for the trip. He also explained what he had to do to survive. “I was freezing,” Kaine said. “It was about 11 or 12 degrees last night and you can’t just run the car all night long sitting still or you run out of gas, which you need for the next morning, so you kind of have to run the car for 10 minutes to heat it up then turn it off for an hour and then it gets cold again.”
When Kaine, who was Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential running mate in 2016, finally made it to work he told ABC News he just wanted to eat. “I did it — 26 hours and 45 minutes. I am beat and I am very hungry,” he said, explaining he only had one soft drink and an orange with him for the trip. He also explained what he had to do to survive.
“I was freezing,” Kaine said. “It was about 11 or 12 degrees last night and you can’t just run the car all night long sitting still or you run out of gas, which you need for the next morning, so you kind of have to run the car for 10 minutes to heat it up then turn it off for an hour and then it gets cold again.”
Tim Kaine chronicled his ordeal on social media
Bloomberg/Getty Images
While in his car for nearly 27 hours, Tim Kaine took to Twitter to explain what was happening and also offer a way to help people. “I started my normal 2 hour drive to DC at 1pm yesterday. 19 hours later, I’m still not near the Capitol. My office is in touch with @VaDOT to see how we can help other Virginians in this situation. Please stay safe everyone,” he tweeted.
In another tweet, he urged anyone in an emergency situation to get help. “I’m frustrated, but not in serious trouble. If you are in trouble on Virginia roads today, call @VaDOT at 1-800-FOR-ROAD.” When Kaine’s long and perilous traffic ordeal was over and he was finally in DC, he tweeted that it was time to get to work. “Ok after 27 hours on the road from Richmond to DC, very happy to be back in the Capitol and working on voting rights legislation this afternoon.”
“I started my normal 2 hour drive to DC at 1pm yesterday. 19 hours later, I’m still not near the Capitol. My office is in touch with @VaDOT to see how we can help other Virginians in this situation. Please stay safe everyone,” he tweeted.
In another tweet, he urged anyone in an emergency situation to get help. “I’m frustrated, but not in serious trouble. If you are in trouble on Virginia roads today, call @VaDOT at 1-800-FOR-ROAD.”
When Kaine’s long and perilous traffic ordeal was over and he was finally in DC, he tweeted that it was time to get to work. “Ok after 27 hours on the road from Richmond to DC, very happy to be back in the Capitol and working on voting rights legislation this afternoon.”
