With Hillary Clinton expected to announce her vice-presidential running mate pick as early as Friday, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack seemed to appear out of nowhere to take a place on Clinton’s “short list” of potential selections – after media speculation had focused for weeks on Virginia Senator Tim Kaine or progressive firebrand Elizabeth Warren, the senator from MA – according to Politico and numerous other media outlets.
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Sen. Timothy M. Kaine of Virginia and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack remain two of the leading contenders for Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential pick, but Sen.
Democrats familiar with the process said Trump’s choice of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, a conservative former congressman, for the GOP ticket was not viewed as requiring her to choose a specific running mate in response.
Yet the Clinton campaign is watching the closing day of the Republican convention with great interest, particularly how Trump’s speech is received, which could influence the timing of their own announcement. One aide says that even the advisers closely working with Clinton on her selection are not sure whom she will pick. Sherrod Brown of OH, both of whom were on Clinton’s list of contenders, said Thursday they were all but certain they had not been selected.
Senator Kaine has emerged as the forerunner in the vice presidential bid, thanks to his experience in presidential battleground state of Virginia as governor and senator. With Trump and his allies blasting Clinton for serious missteps in Libya and Syria, Clinton might find Stavridis a good person to have riding shotgun when the campaign really heats up this fall.
The former first lady will accept the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination during the convention in Philadelphia next week. Clinton and Vilsack were both members of Obama’s cabinet from 2009 through 2012.
The Clintons’ long-running relationship with Vilsack and their personal fondness of him could prove to be decisive, as Clinton deliberates over a political partner she can trust and work hand-in-hand with for as many as eight years. “You know, I am afflicted with the responsibility gene, and I know what it’s like being president”. She also has considered Labor Secretary Tom Perez, Sens.
Tim Kaine says he is one of 20 people in American history to have served as a mayor, governor and U.S. Senator. She said Warren had “put the agenda of inequality front and center”. Kaine is one of the finalists to be Clinton’s running mate. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), according to the Washington Post.
But a second plan calls for an accelerated announcement – should it leak early, by design or not – with their first joint appearance scheduled for late Friday at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, where Clinton is also scheduled to hold a campaign rally.
Another Democratic source said Clinton might wait until Saturday to help keep the media focused on the Republican convention in Cleveland, where opposing wings of that party were in open warfare.
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