The Hill News

President Obama is the latest in a string of prominent Democrats to voice support for Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine to jump in the race for retiring Sen. Jim Webb's (D-Va.) seat in 2012.

“I want to hear what he wants to do,” Obama told a local NBC affiliate on Wednesday. “I think he would be a great senator from Virginia if he chose to do that.”

Obama said, though, Kaine, a former Virginia governor, would ultimately have to decide where he thinks he can do the most good.

"I think he's going to make this decision based on where can he do the most good for the most people," Obama said.

Before Webb announced his retirement plans last week, Kaine said he would not run for the seat if Webb called it quits. Now, Kaine says he is thinking about it. Webb has said he would like Kaine to run for the seat.

Former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) and Tea Party activist Jamie Radtke (R-Va.) have both announced ! their candidacy for the seat. Kaine is one of a number of names mentioned to run for the Democrats.

President Obama picked Kaine to run the DNC in 2009. Kaine served as governor from 2006 to 2010.