Tim Kaine: Obama's Vice President?

JULY 28: Kaine 'Very, Very High' On VP Shortlist

A source says Obama is looking closely at Kaine.

As Senator Barack Obama turns to the choice of his running mate, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has emerged as one of the campaign's potential finalists, sources familiar with conversations in Richmond and in Chicago said. Kaine, an early Obama supporter whose biography nicely dovetails with the Illinois senator's, "ranks very, very high on the short list," said a source who has spoken recently to senior Obama aides about Kaine. Kaine "is getting a critical examination," the source said.

JULY 28: The Kaine Boomlet

Obama comments on "Meet The Press" set off speculation about Kaine.

Ears perked up all over Washington when Obama offered Brokaw a laundry list of characteristics important to him in selecting a vice president -- particularly when Obama seemed to suggest that his veep pick would need to be a change agent ready to shake up Washington. Conventional wisdom quickly formed: Obama was signaling his preference for an outside-the-Beltway pick (Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine or Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius) rather than a Capitol Hill type.

JULY 24: McAuliffe Boosts Kaine For VP

Clinton's former campaign chair says Kaine is Obama's best choice.

McAuliffe was adamant in his recommendation of Kaine as the Democratic Party's vice presidential nominee Tuesday, although he stressed to the News-Press after his speech, which included an informal half-hour question and answer period, that the ultimate choice will be Obama's very personal one.

Comments

[cmhinsley]

It is to hard for me to vote and back someone when they are for abortion, but not really because he is catholic he cannot make up his mind the same as Bo, first for something and at the same breath against it. That is called a two face person, hard to belive, because they cannot be honest deep down in their being..where ever that could be. OB, and Kaine compliment each other...... DUH.........I would love to see Jindal and Kaine, debate...

[AllenD]

During the primaries, I regularly bashed Hillary. That said, I would much rather have Hillary than Kaine as VP. Kaine does not bring anything to the ticket nor does he help with any preceived Obama weakness.

[nobillary1]

Can we PUH-LEEZE give this topic a rest? There are far more compelling topics that could be kicked around than who someone's VP choice will be. No amount of speculation is going to move this process ahead any faster, and I for one, have not lost a lick of sleep worrying about it.

When the candidates make their decision, we'll find out who was chosen; not a moment before!

[engineer68]

Wes Clark must have a clean background. I would think he could bring a lot to the ticket.

[AnnieinOR]

I'm with you 100%

[jsinclair]

I hope the vetting committee has his name on their list because I haven't seen it on anything in the media.

Clark would be excellent--both as the "good adviser" Obama is looking for, and as someone who is smart and a great team player as well as a proven leader.

Why not a true military hero--a four-star general who is a genuine Democrat, opposed the Bush/McCain war from the beginning, and prides himself on being a man of peace?

[Jbun]

I really really hope it's Biden or Bayh.....If a lot of folks worry that they 'don't really know" BO, then maybe a VP who is more mainstream and familiar might help.

Who's Kaine? Never heard of him~

[ohmercy]

"By contrast, Bayh is viewed as having foreign policy credentials, but to my mind, they're mostly bad. I vividly remember his heinous argument for why Democrats had to support the Iraq war in October 2002: "The majority of the American people tend to trust the Republican Party more on issues involving national security and defense than they do the Democratic Party," he told Fox News back then. "We need to work to improve our image on that score by taking a more aggressive posture with regard to Iraq, empowering the president." That showed good judgment."

[zonafan51]

If McAuliffe reccommends Kaine then my response is NO WAY!! I don't want anyone on the ticket with Obama that has a reccommendation from that snake McAuliffe!!!

Obama/Sebelius!!

[ohmercy]

How about knocking off the asinine, inane, sophomoric, middle school insults and verbiage?

What is the point?

Do you know ANYTHING about Kaine?

For that matter do you know anything about Sebilius?
Anything at all?
what are her positions?
What does she stand for?
What is her record on anything?

Lets hear some positive reasons why you are for someone instead of such shallow reasons to be against someomne.

What are you, a McCaine wannabe?
Sounds like what he does.

You know, now that I think of it do you know anything about McCauliffe or Hillary Clinton except what the neocon spinning Hillary haters spew?
eeessshhh.

Thanks so much for keeping the division going.
Troll.

[geobushono]

the whole idea was ludicrous on it's face. The fantasy spin of Kaine"s PR people.

[longislandlol]

Bayh will please the Hillary folk- and we need to please the Hillary folk-- please pick Bayh

[recruitgal]

Why exactly? We're not being held hostage... are we?

[barackobama4prez]

yes we are (or so they like to think while they are in their own little world). 18 million ransom voters

[ohmercy]

I don't know of ANY "Hillary folks" that will be pleased with bayh.

Why would they?
Do you know his record?

Bayh is far too centrist, moreso than Obama.
I'd like to see someone more Progressive.
while Bayh does have some good points the following are disturbing.

from govtrack:
Bayh is a moderate Democrat according to GovTrack's own analysis of bill sponsorship. http://tinyurl.com/5u58uc

"By contrast, Bayh is viewed as having foreign policy credentials, but to my mind, they're mostly bad. I vividly remember his heinous argument for why Democrats had to support the Iraq war in October 2002: "The majority of the American people tend to trust the Republican Party more on issues involving national security and defense than they do the Democratic Party," he told Fox News back then. "We need to work to improve our image on that score by taking a more aggressive posture with regard to Iraq, empowering the president."
"IMPROVE OUR IMAGE???"

http://tinyurl.com/6kxxlb
Broaden use of death penalty. (Jan 1998)
# Voted YES on reforming bankruptcy to include means-testing & restrictions. (Mar 2005)
# Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)
Rated 50% by NARAL, indicating a mixed voting record on abortion. (Dec 2003)
Rated 25% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion. (Dec 2006)
Rated 33% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues. (Dec 2002)
Rated 30% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record. (Dec 2003)

[ohmercy]

PS

BTW, the thing that would please Hillary people?
Stop the hate mongering and demonization, the lies and the hypocrisy, the attacks and the neocon smears.
What would please the "Hillary people" was for Obama supporters to let it go, move on and actually learn something about Hillary instead of going on, and on, and on with the attacks, puit down, insults...

A little respect would go a long way toward "pleasing" the "Hillary People."

I know that is asking too much but I thought I'd inform you anyway.
.
ENOUGH with the lies, the middle-school cafeteria "mean girl" behavior, the spreading of misinformation. If you don't know the facts don't talk about it. I've seen more insane statements about both candidates that only make people look ignorant to anyone who has bothered to research them.

That is what would please Hillary People.

At this point I can only believe that anyone who is insulting, attacking and smearing Hillary or Obama (or their supporters) are trolls who want no part of unifying the party

[bluemike]

I hope it is Chuck Hagel or Joe Biden. I have two staunch Republican friends who say they would vote Democratic this election if Hagel gets the VP slot. From the limited perspective of my world, Obama-Hagel appears to be a winning ticket. The other visible, honest and tough straight-shooter is Joe Biden.

[norkas]

good post bluemike i agree. Reaching across makes good sense now because he has said it all along. If he selects Joe i will aslo be happy.

[recruitgal]

I like Hagel, but he's as conservative as they come - his agreement with the Dems is limited to the 'War on Terror'.

[jsinclair]

What do they think of Clark?

In my opinion, he has it all over Hagel on military matters and is truly a Democrat.

Unlike Biden, Clark can lead OR be an excellent team player. Also, anyone voting for Biden is already voting for Obama over McCain.

Clark would attract an entirely different demographic--plus, he's from a modest upbringing in the South, which couldn't hurt.

Apparently, Clark isn't high on Obama's list. I hope his vetters will take another look, because he has a lot of excellent qualifications and experience to bring to the ticket, is both an "insider" AND an "outsider", (and also allows Obama to keep governors and senators in place).

[pdsimdars]

I'm glad to hear that. Kaine says his position on abortion is similar to GW Bush. He doesn't support stem cell research and his position on the death penalty has changed to be more in favoror of it since he became governor.
There are a number of other indicators that point in similar directions.

[pdsimdars]

I'm glad to hear that. Kaine says his position on abortion is similar to GW Bush. He doesn't support stem cell research and his position on the death penalty has changed to be more in favoror of it since he became governor.
There are a number of other indicators that point in similar directions.

[DennyCrane]

I really hope it's not Kaine. He's just too boring and Obama can win Virginia without him. For once, I'd like to see a candidate pick a running mate based on who can help him govern, not on who can help him win the election. What's the point of winning if you can't govern effectively?

[recruitgal]

Agree entirely on the governing issue.

[jsinclair]

I saw him for the first time last night on "Charlie Rose" and have to agree 100% about "boring".

He rambled on enthusiastically and earnestly through non-answer after non-answer. Harvard law school aside, I was unable to picture him as having any insights of any value at all in an Obama presidency.

He seemed not only an intellectual lightweight, but unaware of how to craft a message on television.

He's inoffensive, but I think even someone like Bayh would be better (Clark, of course, being my favorite choice of all).

[neesy08]

why would anybody listen to WaPo are they not the paper of the conservative base?


as for mcauliffe, he is so bizarre! who cares what he thinks? he has not seen a camera he did not love!

[w8aminute]

Why would anyone care about what McAuliffe recommends? Didn't he have enough airtime? Or rather, should I ask if we didn't already have enough of him.

[poco767b]

I have nothing against kaine, I am just getting bored of him.

[recruitgal]

I quite like him, but he seems to be basking in the attention rather a lot for someone who hasn't been picked.

I'm still hoping for Gov Sebelius. I think she'd be perfect. If he also announced his senior team (Clarke, Biden, Richardson) at the same time, I'd be a very happy gal.