Former Virginia governor and U.S. Senator George Allen officially threw his hat into the ring for Virginia's 2012 Senate race, setting up a potential re-match with his 2006 opponent, Sen. Jim Webb, a Democrat.

Allen made the announcement via video message, complete with shots of American flags and the Thomas Jefferson memorial.

“You know what we’ve been getting from Washington? Overspending, finger-pointing and government mandates," Allen says in the video. "What's missing? Listening," he says, concluding with the declaration, "Thank you, and please stay strong for freedom."

Allen lost to Webb in 2006 after calling a Webb staffer of Indian descent "macaca," a slur.

Webb has not said whether he even intends to see reelection in 2012.

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