Tim Kaine reflects how she is running against Donald Trump: Kaine will help her emphasize that she is the responsible candidate who belongs in the Oval Office, not the billionaire real estate magnate and reality TV star.
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In response to this major political decision Kaine himself tweeted, “I’m honored to be her running mate”.
Kaine, who was reportedly on Obama’s VP shortlist in 2008, was announced as Clinton’s vice presidential pick Friday night.
The Spanish-speaking lawyer, widely seen as a safe choice for Clinton as she heads into a bruising showdown with Republican Donald Trump, emerged as a frontrunner in the veepstakes because he ticks so many boxes. Clinton called Kaine by phone around 7:30 p.m. Friday to offer him the job, and he accepted, according to a campaign aide. She called Kaine to tell him about 40 minutes before the announcement, and called President Barack Obama shortly after Kaine.
More important than Kaine’s tenure on the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, Beebe said, voters in Arkansas will look toward Kaine’s executive experience running Virginia, which Beebe said is similar to Arkansas in its diversity of people and geography.
As the process entered July, Clinton scheduled a joint campaign event with Kaine in Annandale, Virginia, where he showed off his bilingual abilities, telling the audience, “Estamos listos para Hillary!” – or “We’re ready for Hillary”. His selection completes the line-up for the general election.
“Since Tim Kaine voted to fast track the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Republicans now have a new opening to attack Democrats on this economic populist issue”, the PCCC said in a statement. The exact same logic applied to Clinton’s reason for selecting Kaine eight years later, only he’s now experienced and has now spent time in Senate.
After Obama won, he tapped Kaine to lead the Democratic National Committee, and Kaine served as both chairman and governor for a year – something that drew some criticism within the state. And it’s why he was long considered a front-runner in the race to join Hillary Clinton’s presidential ticket. “Welcome him to my team”, she said in her text message.
Perhaps above all, Kaine is a middle-of-the-road choice who can put independent male voters at ease.
He went to Harvard Law School, but before graduating went on a missionary trip to Honduras – an experience he had regularly cited during his political career. Kaine started out as a civil rights attorney.
Also on the short list were Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who has been friends with the Clintons for decades and is originally from another key battleground state, Pennsylvania; and Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, a Latino seen as a true liberal.
“I confess, it is true, I can be a little wonky”, she said at a campaign rally in June.
After flirting with potential picks like Massachusetts Sen.
“Do you want a “you’re fired” president or a “you’re hired” president?”
Mrs. Clinton had entertained more daring choices. They’re moral decisions for individuals to make for themselves.
If the Clinton/Kaine ticket wins, Kaine will obviously have to give up his Senate seat, and Virginia’s Democratic governor, Terry McAuliffe (D), will appoint a temporary senator to fill the vacancy.
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Together they portray themselves as bridge-builders who champion government as a powerful and positive tool for American achievement in a fast-moving world.
