With emergency declared for floods, Va. gov is in Ark. for private Dem fundraiser

Va. gov out of town for DNC as his state floods

RICHMOND, Va. — With his state under an emergency declaration because of heavy rain and floods Thursday, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine was in Arkansas for a Democratic fundraiser.

Kaine is chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He appeared Thursday with Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe at a closed $250-per-ticket luncheon at a home in Little Rock.

Kaine issued the emergency declaration Wednesday night, putting state agencies on alert to respond to flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida.

Aides say the governor is in constant phone contact with the Emergency Operations Center and his chief of staff in Richmond. He returns to Virginia late Thursday and plans to visit flood-damaged areas across the state Saturday.

Republicans say Kaine is neglecting his duties.

(This version CORRECTS APNewsNow. corrects in lead that governor is in Arkansas, not headed there.)