Kaine served as Virginia’s 70th governor from 2006 to 2010.
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Friday, Democrat Hillary Clinton also announced a sensible, if uninspiring, pick – Sen.
Video: Will Tim Kaine’s selection as Clinton’s running mate excite progressives? Kaine could perhaps nudge it even further into Clinton’s corner. Like his Chicago-native running mate, he is from the midwest, having been born in St. Paul, Minn. on February 26, 1958. The two will make their first appearance together Saturday at a rally in Miami.
Clinton’s decision caps a highly secretive, months-long process to find a political partner.
He is also popular in Virginia, a swing state, where he has served as the mayor of Richmond, VA, the governor and now a senator.
“Our presidential ticket can not beat the billionaire bigot by simply being not Donald Trump”, said Charles Chamberlain, executive director of the liberal advocacy group Democracy for America, in a statement.
Kaine, 58, edged out two other finalists – Cory Booker, a U.S. senator from New Jersey, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, according to a Democratic source familiar with the discussions.
As for Kaine’s Senate seat, there’s no concern his election as vice president could jeopardize Democrats’ hopes of winning back Congress’ upper chamber in November: Kaine’s replacement would be appointed by Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat and longtime ally of the Clintons. Harvard is the same law school that turned out President Barack Obama.
She spent Wednesday and Thursday at home in NY to consider her vice presidential pick. Elizabeth Warren for the second slot on the Democratic presidential ticket. Sherrod Brown, intensifying their criticism of Kaine late this week as his selection appeared imminent. Kaine is a supporter of free trade deals, and as his vice presidential stock began to rise, many progressive groups voiced their displeasure.
The announcement about Clinton’s vice president pick underscores the importance of social media in the presidential campaign. “In a time when she is trying to cater to Sanders supporters, it was more catering to conservative voters and she’s not going to get any wave from it”.
The announcement came as Clinton campaigned in Florida ahead of Monday’s start of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
It was a reference to the Texas senator and former GOP primary rival, who shocked the Republican convention by refusing to endorse the nominee.
“I also think he’s demonstrated he has a backbone”, Ford said. He promised to work “so hard” as the nominee and vowed his campaign was “not going to disappear”, even though he has no plans to campaign this weekend and no events on his schedule for next week.
Friends and colleagues describe Kaine as someone who prides himself on his ability to work with a broad spectrum of political adversaries, but isn’t above digging down deep to win tight political contests.
Kaine is fluent in Spanish and a devout Catholic who once worked with Jesuit missionaries in Honduras.
The Democratic ticket in the race for the White House is set. The former first lady has repeatedly said the question of who would make a good president if required to step in for her was at the forefront of her search. The couple has three children. Her choice isn’t historic-as it would have been if Clinton had selected Warren or Booker.
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Some critics believe Kaine doesn’t bring the sizzle needed by the Democrats to vie for voters impressed with Trump’s no nonsense approach and get-it-done attitude.
