Partisan politics and angry rhetoric seems to be the song of the 2016 campaign to the White House so far, but Tim Kaine tuned it all out Monday night with a few riffs on his harmonica.
"That felt great. Nothing makes me more nervous than doing that, but it's good to get out of your comfort zone. Asheville is a pretty good place, huh?" Kaine said after joining in with local bluegrass musicians Nikki Talley and Jason Sharp at Catawba Brewery in Asheville, N.C., according to CNN.
'That felt great’: Tim Kaine whips out harmonica to play ‘Wagon Wheel’ at Asheville brewery https://t.co/od4PcIrNDYpic.twitter.com/eHtCptigtD
— CNN (@CNN) August 16, 2016
Kaine joined in performing Bob Dylan's "Wagon Wheel" in front of a smattering of supporters and journalists when he and his wife, Anne Holton, decided to stop by the brewery after eating dinner at Buxton Hall Barbecue next door.
The performance was posted on Twitter and quickly drew the attention of many online. Some praised Kaine while others poked a little fun at Hillary Clinton's running mate.
Ah, going after the key "wagon wheel" vote. https://t.co/XUbTPowuO3— David Forbes (@David Forbes) 1471317102.0
5:1 odds Tim Kaine pressures the father of the groom to join him on "Wagon Wheel." "Anyone can play the spoons, Larry," Tim Kaine will say.— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1471316293.0
When @timkaine played Wagon Wheel and won every southern frat boy's vote https://t.co/Z2e8uvhory— Cory Rothschild (@Cory Rothschild) 1471319693.0
Perhaps most notable, Kaine's performance caught the attention of famous 1990s band Blues Traveler.
Hey @timkaine, we know you have a fight ahead of you, but we hear you're packing #harps. Consider this a standing invitation to duel! :)— Blues Traveler (@Blues Traveler) 1469736915.0
The group played two songs, along with a few freestyle solos by Kaine. During the second song, Holton joined the performance, clogging along to "My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains."
Kaine sings "My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains" in Asheville, N.C. Bonus: his wife, Anne Holton, clogging. pic.twitter.com/sy0wb1yP9S
— Thomas Kaplan (@thomaskaplan) August 16, 2016
But the Virginia senator is not immune to the rough and tumble politics of this election cycle.
Earlier in the day, Kaine spoke at a community center, where he slammed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump for not releasing his tax returns. He told supporters, "Americans have a right to know what the financial situation is."
Trump has so far refused to release his tax returns, claiming he cannot do so while being audited by the Internal Revenue Service.
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