Mr Kaine was a finalist to be Barack Obama’s running mate in 2008 and served as Virginia governor before his time in the Senate.
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After speaking at a Tampa rally today about Donald Trump’s “dark and divisive vision” and last night’s speech that “took it to a whole new level” with “a lot of fear and anger and resentment”, the Kaine email pitched the senator as “a man of relentless optimism” who “has never taken a job for the glory or the title”. And he’s also seen as a business-friendly Democrat, which is true because he was a governor and most governors have more business-friendly views on how to govern.
Instead of wealth or prestige, supporters and colleagues said the former missionary is a man motivated by deep convictions and his Roman Catholic faith.
“It should be disqualifying for any potential Democratic vice presidential candidate to be part of a lobbyist-driven effort to help banks dodge consumer protection standards and regulations created to prevent banks from destroying our economy”, Democracy for America director Charles Chamberlain said after the announcement. And on a personal level, I wish him well. So what does Bernie Sanders think of Tim Kaine?
Kaine’s tenure as governor (Virginia is the last state that still limits its governors to a single four-year term) was marked by the deadly shooting at Virginia Tech in April 2007.
Through his time as a Catholic missionary in Honduras, the senator is also a fluent Spanish speaker – something United States media say will help Mrs Clinton with minorities (although it seems fair to say Mr Trump was already trailing with Latinos). And as a private attorney before he entered politics, he made a name for himself advocating for fair housing.
According to the Huffington Post, though, Kaine has indicated to Clinton that he now opposes the TPP. The couple have three children.
Kaine has had a somewhat charmed political rise.
The Clinton team is hoping his extensive governing experience – as a former governor, lieutenant governor and Richmond mayor – will provide a strong contrast to the Republican ticket.
He served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, helping build a broader national profile.
The pick comes just days before the start of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, where Clinton – and now Kaine – next week are to be elevated as the nominees to the party’s presidential ticket.
Another potential issue for liberal voters is the fact that Kaine received the third highest proportion of his political donations from the “securities and investment” industry, according to OpenSecrets data cited by MarketWatch. From that meeting, Cohen said he could tell Kaine was “an up-and-coming star”.
Kaine and Vilsack each had friends and allies lobbying the Clinton campaign on their behalf.
He is the Governor of a swing State where he enjoys popular support. And since arriving at the Senate, Kaine has been working to expand Congress’ role in voting for and declaring war, an effort that put him at odds with the White House.
“When the pomp and circumstance of the convention is over, millions of Bernie’s supporters could well be left wondering why their suggested running mates were not considered”, Donna Smith, executive director of Progressive Democrats of America, said in that release.
“Tim Kaine is the genuine article”, said Plum.
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Hillary Clinton has chosen her running mate for the Democratic ticket.
