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Yes We Kaine?

August 21, 2008 11:03 AM

For 15 minutes this morning, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, met privately with Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and Kaine's staff at the Omni Hotel in Richmond.

At 10:05 am ET, the two Democrats descended a staircase and shook hands with about 100 fans gathered in the atrium.

After the meeting, a reporter asked Gov. Kaine if Sen. Obama asked him to be his running mate. Kaine's response was the standard line he’s given all week: "I'm going to let the campaign speak for the campaign."

When asked what he and Sen. Obama talked about this morning Kaine said, "He visited with my staff just to basically say hi to them and thank them for all their hard work."

The two men are currently holding an event in Chester, Virginia, at John Tyler Community College.

Tyler was the last Vice President to hail from Virginia. After President William Henry Harrison died from an illness, Tyler became president, nicknamed "His Accidency."

- Jpt

UPDATE: From ABC News' Jennifer Duck: Sen. Obama spent most of his morning with one of the rumored vice presidential contenders Gov. Tim Kaine and the two appeared on stage together for over an hour at an event in Chester, Virginia.

Compliments between the two leaders were exchanged publicly at the event, however there was no mention of the vice presidency.

Kaine spent a majority of his five minute introduction praising Obama and attacking Republican rival Sen. John McCain.

“One of the things that makes me laugh the most is people who say a vote for senator might be risky—well, let me tell you what risk is,” Kaine said to the small crowd.  “When the economy is the front and center thing that all Americans are so concerned about right now, to put somebody in the White House that says ‘I don’t know much about economy,’ that is risky folks.  That’s what Sen McCain said and that’s risky.”

The Virginia Governor also tagged Sen McCain to President Bush saying the two are in “lockstep" and McCain would make the same choices as the president if he could do it all over again.

As Sen. Obama stumped to make the red state turn blue, Kaine sat to the side on a stool listening.  Sen. Obama also criticized Sen. McCain on Iraq, the economy, and McCain’s inability to understand middle class Americans.

August 21, 2008 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | Share | User Comments (90)

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I hope it is Kaine, I hope he asked Hillary and she told him NO! I really hope McCain asks Sara Palin to be his VP. See I have hope and change in mind without Obama!

Posted by: Jim | Aug 21, 2008 6:11:10 PM

President of the United States is above Obama's pay grade. Obama could run for president of Europe, when the job is created. Ha, Ha, Ha,...

Posted by: Bill in FL. | Aug 21, 2008 4:08:05 PM

Obama is like the captain of the Titanic, would you want the number two position? The more people learn about the real Obama, the better McCain looks. Hillary is smart, she is staying clear of the shipwreck.

Posted by: Thore | Aug 21, 2008 4:04:27 PM

Hillary is the only one that can help 0bama now. Kaine would be a joke of a ticket. Biden is an idiot as well.

The One is taking so long to decide, it makes me wonder whether it IS Hillary. It would make sense at this point.

All except for the Bill factor.

Posted by: Tim | Aug 21, 2008 4:00:32 PM

Obma, the affirmative action nominee, has lost 7 to 17 points in the polls in the last two months. By the election in November, he will be 14 to 34 points behind McCain. This will be the worst loss in modern day history!!! Looks like the puma people has a valid point.

Posted by: Atisha | Aug 21, 2008 3:59:44 PM

Country before party !!!
No Kaine do !!!
9.7 million strong and growing.
************ PUMA *************

Posted by: Art in FL. | Aug 21, 2008 3:54:05 PM

Did Obama bring his "Obama Presidential seal" with him?

Posted by: Bart | Aug 21, 2008 3:51:16 PM

To all of you pathetic whiney Clinton supporters still stuck in the past..you can look yourselves in the mirror and thank yourselves if Obama loses. Then when the next war is launched and more young men and women are sent off to die, and women start going to Mexico for illegal abortions, and companies begin cancelling health coverage in lieu of McSame's $2,500 tax credit, you can pat yourselves on the back for a job very well done in electing 4 to 8 more years of Republican rule which is virtually destroying this country. So contrats to you. Be careful what you ask for, it looks like you may get it.

Posted by: DW | Aug 21, 2008 3:50:01 PM

The only way "THE ONE" will be on a winning ticket in November, is to beg Hillary to run for president and again begging to be the Vice Presidential pick.

PUMA - Clinton/Obama is the only way to victory in '08, for the democrats.

Posted by: Baron | Aug 21, 2008 3:48:51 PM

Hey Obama, is selecting a "qualified" VP above your paygrade.

Posted by: Bingo | Aug 21, 2008 3:41:18 PM

It looks like "The One" will be the one that will loose the election in a landslide. Just think, the democrats cheated Hillary out of the nomination, for this wanna-be-president.

Posted by: Arttie | Aug 21, 2008 3:39:21 PM

If Obama picks either one of those three he will not win. It will be another snooze fest for the Dems, just like Gore and Kerry/

Posted by: Bing | Aug 21, 2008 3:36:52 PM

Obama & kaine = 2 inexperienced losers

Posted by: abe | Aug 21, 2008 3:35:21 PM

I also live in Va.and Kaine is about the %%%% thing I have ever seen.No,I will not raise taxes but I will raise every fee for anything I can so we can pay for all of these state workers who do nothing.I am no politican but I can see the waste of all the state spending. If you want a good laugh just watch VDOT operate!

Posted by: ronnie | Aug 21, 2008 3:34:23 PM

Let's just agree to disagree. But please stop having my posts erased and having me bumped just because you do not agree with me. And please stop stop stop trashing our own party and our candidates. You, the Hillary people, have damaged the reputation of the Democratic party so much with your bickering and hateful comments that we WILL be stuck with 4 more years of Bush administration policies. But then McCain and Republicans must be grinning from ear to ear right now.

Posted by: lovinggrandma53 | Aug 21, 2008 3:29:43 PM

Given the increasing cold war rhetoric between the US and Russia, I would hope Biden with his background of foreign policy would be the veep choice. But we won't know until this staged cliffhanger comes to a close.

Posted by: kat | Aug 21, 2008 3:23:54 PM

I have lived in Virginia all my life and I think it is safe to say he is not very popular in his home state and having him as a VP is not going to give Obama the election here. He has already had at least one of his pieces of legislation "abusive driver fines" overturned. Not to mention we went from a budget surplus in two years to being deep in the red. His failure list in this state is still growing.

Posted by: tigger | Aug 21, 2008 3:10:30 PM

First of all Democrats have made ahuge mistake by selecting Barak Obama thier nominee! And now it's Tom Kaine as VP? Another inexperienced politician with few accomplishments? It would be like blind leading the blind! Having not won even a one major state during the primaries and having manipulated the caucuses with small groups of zealots, but now not in play for the presidential election, Mr. Obama is going to find himself stuck! Now with Wright and Ruzko scandals Sen. Obama is quickly losing the support of independents and men, and who knows what other catastrophe for Sen. Obama is coming down the pipe line? He’s been hanging out with such wonderful friends! Don’t forget the Ralphy is in the game too! That will be end of story for Democrats. The best chance they had winning the White House with Sen. Hillary Clinton. Get used to saying President McCain!

Posted by: charlesC | Aug 21, 2008 3:07:16 PM

Joe, why do you care what McCain spends on shoes? It's HIS money, not yours. Unlike what the liberals think,the money you earn is yours, not the government. It shouldn't be shared as Obama believes. Maybe Michelle Obama needs to send some money to her new found brother-in-law since she makes over $300,000. Should we make her pay? I think McCain probably doesn't know becaue most are probably in Cindy's family. They have seperate finances and that's what the left keeps omitting.

Posted by: justrighttoo | Aug 21, 2008 3:04:16 PM

If Obama picks a VP because of one state, he is not making a good choice. Now if he chooses him, because of one state and he is the only person he can get along with, that's another reason, albeit not a winning strategy. I'm not impressed with Kaine and it certainly will not make me vote for Obama. I still think his choice is Hillary. That would cause me to reconsider, but I almost hope Hillary would turn him down though.

Posted by: Susan | Aug 21, 2008 3:01:49 PM

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