Kaine Pledges to Publish Daily Travel Records Every Month

"They're fuzzifying it," said Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Pat Mullins. "It's almost like they're trying to hide what he's doing. Sure, they'll tell you he's traveling, but they won't tell you why."

In a statement, Tran said the information was released "in the interest of transparency" and in response to multiple public information requests received by the state police.

"The governor is engaged in state work every day," she said, declining further comment.

Kaine's announcement came on the same day that the Virginia State Police was legally required to release travel records in response to a public information request filed by The Washington Post.

Until now, Kaine has said he would answer questions about his work on behalf of the DNC when asked, but would not release a full schedule of his travels and activities, citing privacy and security concerns, as well as state law, court rulings and precedent.

Kaine said in a recent interview that he typically spends one day a week traveling for the DNC and another half a day working at the party's headquarters in Washington. But he said he remains in constant contact with staff from the governor's office by cellphone and e-mail when he is gone. To help, he began carrying a BlackBerry in January.

Kaine, who was on the short list to become the Democratic vice presidential pick last year, said he initially refused to serve as Obama's top political messenger until the president persuaded him otherwise.

"I don't view that, frankly, as consistent with being governor, so I'm going to be governor," Kaine said in November. "I would view it as taking my eye too much off the ball about things that need to happen here."

After he took the DNC job at President Obama's urging in January, Kaine said he would work at it part-time from Richmond on weekends and in evenings, relying on aides, computers and phones to monitor party business. But records show that 25 of his DNC travel days were weekdays. In January 2010, when his term as governor ends, he would become full-time party chairman.

"Ultimately, the issue is, am I working hard on state business?" Kaine said in June, noting that he does five to seven public events each week and is continually rolling out new initiatives. "I'm working seven days a week. . . . I'm very comfortable with the time I'm spending on state business."