I like Virginia Governor Tim Kaine for VP; I also like Claire McCaskill but this post is about Kaine

[Stop Cornyn]

Virginia will be a critical battleground state in the general election.

We have at least three excellent VP candidates from Virginia: Tim Kaine, Mark Warner, and Jim Webb.

I think Kaine Warner, and Webb are all excellent candidates for VP, but I prefer Kaine, and here's why:

Warner is (by far) the most likely Democratic Senate candidate to pick up a seat from the Repubs. Likewise, Webb is building an excellent reputation in the Senate. We need both Warner and Webb in the Senate.

Kaine, on the other hand, is term-limited as governor so he needs to find another avenue to serve the citizens of Virginia and America.

In addition to Virginia, Minnesota and Missouri will also be critical battleground states in the general election. Kaine was born in Minnesota and raised in Missouri, where he went to college.

Catholics and evangelicals will be a critical swing demographic. After college in Missouri and before he graduated from Harvard Law School, Kaine to a break from his studies to work with the Jesuits as a Catholic missionary in Honduras.

Like Obama, Kaine graduated from Harvard Law School and nevertheless passed on the high-paying job opportunities to represent the poor and oppressed (he mainly worked to in fair housing cases representing those who had been denied their rights based on disability or race). Like Obama, Kaine has served as a law professor (while Obama taught constitutional law, Kaine taught ethics).

Kaine is a popular outside-the-beltway candidate with mayoral and gubernatorial executive experience (and he has achieved much success at those executive positions) who has strong appeal to constituencies where Obama could use additional support. Plus, Kaine has strong ties to battleground states Missouri and Virginia.

To me, Kaine and McCaskill have become two top VP contenders (along with Bill Richardson and - perhaps - Kathy Castor).

[stray cat]

1. What if Warner were not going for the senate - how do Kaine and Warner compare?

I heard Warner has a business background that is impressive as well

[FSogol]

4. Warner is a superstar in VA politics. Kaine is popular but not at Warner's level. n/t

[stray cat]

6. I think we may want a superstar for VP -

[papapi]

11. Obama is the superstar. Kaine would do nicely. He's well liked here in VA.

We need Warner in the Senate - and Webb. Webb does have some baggage because of his fiction and his previous stance on women in the military. The VA triumvirate could prove a mighty force not only in VA but throughout the Appalachians. Cheney hasn't helped with his 'incest' remark in WV.

[sfam]

16. As a Virginian, I completely agree. Warner guarantees VA, Kaine does not...

But Warner loses us a Senate seat if we take him. Kaine does help in the states mentioned, and perhaps also in North Carolina and Georgia, if Barack goes after those.

He doesn't have anything on the foreign policy though. But if I were going for an executive that could help me, I think both Kaine and Sebelius would be terrific choices, but for different reasons.

[Thrill]

18. Why can't Kaine just take over the race for Senate? Both should beat Gillispe right?

[BeyondGeography]

2. Kaine is also a true friend to Obama

Being on the same wavelength counts for a lot. For all the reasons you mention, he'd be a strong contender even without that going for him.

[Vicky Polonia]

3. I like Warner

He's extremely popular in VA.

[stray cat]

5. Hi, Welcome to DU!

[Robbins]

7. Kaine

It will be tough since he Is prolife but unlike some who say they are prolife and have no trouble executing people he opposes the death Penelity and has sworn to honor the law as it exsists in
both.He endosed Obama early In 2007 and was one of the first outside of Illinois to do so.He would
be of help but Virginia DUers can tell If he Is willing to atack the Republicans.Obama needs someone
to go on the attacka gainst Mccain.

[Stop Cornyn]

12. Tim's a fighter.

[sfam]

17. And yet he still hasn't fixed our traffic woes in Northern VA...

I say this partially in jest (not the traffic woes part - that's some serious shit) because he's been thwarted by the Republican assholes in the Senate. But strangely enough, Warner was able to get things through them - his political skills were incredible. Kaine is fairly good other than that though...

[Stop Cornyn]

8. There is no question that Warner is popular in VA. Kaine was elected governor by a slightly larger

margin than Warner, but that was only because Warner helped Kaine so much.

Both Kaine and Warner are popular. Both will help secure Virginia in our column.

The key additional advantage that Kaine brings that Warner does not is that Kaine also has strong ties to Missouri.

The key disadvantage that Warner brings that Kaine does not is that we are giving up a sure bet on a senate pick-up if we divert warner from his Senate run.

[Symarip]

9. It's kind of nuts living here in Northern Va.

I lived in Virginia some years ago and it was solidly (SOLIDLY) red. Now, the three most popular politicians are all Dem's in this area. I think we have a real shot here! Kaine talked last night at the Obama rally. He's a real strong speaker and he's got the background to bolster where our man is lacking. I wouldn't mind seeing an Obama/Kaine ticket one bit.

[george_maniakes]

10. It would certainly be a "fresh ticket". Two newcomers to overthrow the current mess...

and make something better. Would that make kaine head of nasa?

[xxqqqzme]

13. Are either Kaine or Warner dlc?

Just curious....w/ Clinton out, which means the dlc has failed yet again, will they be pushing a dlcer for the VP slot?

[Stop Cornyn]

14. Kaine and Warner are both a bit like Webb -- more populist than the DLC on most issues but somewhat

moderate (as opposed to extremely progressive) on some social issues.

[xxqqqzme]

15. Thanx - I checked

around the dlc site and didn't see either of their names anywhere. I know a year or so ago they had Obama's name on their site and he asked them to remove it.

[Barack_America]

19. Kaine is hands down the best choice for VP.

Did you know that their mothers are both from the same small town in Kansas?

What a hell of a narrative that would be. Two men with roots in the same heartland town, one black, one white, both on the same ticket.

I am so crushing on that ticket! :loveya: