Kaine Seen as Able to Be President on Day One, Deliver Vital Battleground State of Virginia
Democratic U.S. Senator and former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is Hillary Clinton’s pick for vice president, The New York Times just reported. The Harvard Law School graduate who has never lost an election began his political career as a Richmond, Virginia City Councilman, was subsequently elected Mayor, Lt. Governor, and Governor of Virginia. He also served as the chair of the Democratic National Committee. Sen. Kaine serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,which Clinton is believed to see as a major plus.
Kaine has supported full marriage rights for same-sex couples since 2013. He is pro-choice and has said he would protect Roe. v. Wade. Although he personally opposes abortion he has said he supports government funding it. He voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.
A “Left Liberal,” Kaine scores 70 percent on social issues and 90 percent on economic issues.
Kaine is 58, a Roman Catholic, married and has three children. He spent a year doing missionary work in Honduras.
Clinton’s short list has always included Kaine. It also featured Senator Elizabeth Warren, New Jersey Senator and former Mayor Cory Booker, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez, among several others.
UPDATE: 8:16 PM EDT –
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Image by Hillary Clinton via Twitter