Tim Kaine is obsessed with harmonicas

Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton's running mate, is said to have an affinity for music — and particularly, for harmonicas.

(Image credit: Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images)

published 27 July 2016

We all have our hobbies, and Sen. Tim Kaine's hobby is harmonicas. He loves harmonicas. A lot. He carries multiple harmonicas in his briefcase. He once held a "Harmonica With Tim" promotional contest where the winner got dinner and a harmonica lesson with him. He randomly shows up at bluegrass jamborees with his harmonicas to jam. You don't get between Kaine and his harmonica.

Hillary Clinton's mountain music-loving running mate first learned to play the harmonica in seventh grade, and his skills now command the respect of fellow Virginians all across the state:

"One Sunday I'm there in the circle playing banjo and suddenly TV cameras show up," said Alan Graf, a lawyer and a musician, who often plays at the Floyd Country Store. "Tim Kaine walks in, and he sits down and someone goes, 'That's Senator Tim Kaine,' and I go, 'Oh great,' so much for a relaxed session with cameras beaming at you."Mr. Graf was "leading" the song that Mr. Kaine joined in on, which in bluegrass means he can dictate who gets to take a solo during a break."And we're playing, and I notice Tim's looking at me," he said. "And I figured it was time for a solo. So I gave him the nod," he said with a pause, laughing. "Like Hillary."[…] "But he took it, he took it, man," Mr. Graf said. "He just jumped on it. He was ready to go, and he took a pretty mean harp solo." [The New York Times]

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.

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