Meet the other college professor running for Eric Cantor's seat.

Few long-shot congressional candidates will get as much attention this year as Randolph-Macon College professor Jack Trammell. The Democrat is facing fellow professor David Brat, who defeated Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., in a primary and put the race for the Richmond-area seat on the national radar.

“I like my chances,” Trammell told USA TODAY. “I think my chances will depend on whether I can run a good campaign or not.”

The district is reliably Republican — Mitt Romney carried it by 15 points in 2012 — and Brat is the favorite to win in November. But in an interview, Trammell said he’s prepared to run a spirited race against Brat, whom he characterized as a “casual friend” made after years working together on the same campus, over informal chats and during basketball games.

A political novice, Trammell is now focused on hiring a campaign staff, raising money and grappling with the influx of national media interest following Cantor’s unprecedented defeat. “The last week was overwhelming and my iPhone pretty much melted after the AP called the primary election,” he said.

A political race between two academics could provide a rare opportunity for a more intellectual campaign.

http://onpolitics.usatoday.com/2014/06/18/democrat-jack-trammell-on-winning-cantor-seat-i-like-my-chances/