- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Kaine Generates More VP Buzz
Email
ShareAugust 19, 2008 3:21 PM
ABC News' Jennifer Duck reports from Richmond, VA: The state capitol and governor's mansion in Richmond was far from buzzing with activity today--that is until Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine exited his office and seemed happy to speak with ABC News and another crew waiting outside.
Senator Obama will reportedly announce his vice presidential nominee sometime this week and the announcement could come as early as tomorrow. Topping the speculative list are Sen. Joe Biden, Former Sen. Evan Bayh and Gov. Tim Kaine.
As the VP pick gets closer by the hour, questions were tossed Kaine's way about recent conversations with Sen. Obama and a possible joint event with both the Virginia Governor and the presumptive democratic presidential candidate.
Gov. Kaine dodged when asked if he's spoken with Obama today. "The [Obama] campaign is in control of all of the announcements and I'm not going to talk about my conversations with the campaign," Kaine said.
What's most interesting is the governor's schedule for Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday Sen. Obama will be in Virginia with convention keynote speaker Mark Warner and he will appear at separate townhall event with Vietnam veteran Sen. Jim Webb. Gov. Kaine will be on the other side of the state with a slew of community events that have been long in the works according to his office.
It's rumored Kaine and Obama will hold an event on Thursday together but nothing is confirmed or set in stone. Both Kaine and Obama’s spokesmen say the schedule is "in flux."
Kaine has one event scheduled for Thursday making the day pretty open for other opportunities. When asked about his schedule Thursday Kaine said "schedules get written and rewritten all the time" and pointed reporters again to the Obama campaign for further details.
However, when pressed further about his clear schedule Thursday and a possible joint appearance, Kaine said, "You know, we'll see. We'll see."
The Virginia Governor doesn't have the foreign policy experience Former Sen. Evan Bayh and Sen Joe Biden have but he does appeal to the Obama campaign’s idea of "change" and he is far from the
"Washington insider" title that some tag to members serving in Congress for many years. Gov. Kaine was one of the first state officials to endorse Sen. Obama for president and has been stumping for his campaign across Virginia for many months.
Kaine said he is "flattered" to be considered but says he remains focused on this gubernatorial duties for now.
"…it's been flattering to be mentioned. I never have really expected it to happen but look it's very flattering," he said today. "But my main focus is Virginia, both governing but also the fact for the first time in so many years we have a presidential race that’s truly competitive here is just a great thing."
August 19, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (38)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Sounds like he's playing the role of diversion.
And I'm sure Kaine told the Obama campaign that his leaving as governor would really work against Virginia Democrats. A Republican lieutenant governor would take over, setting a return to Republican control for the all important post-census redistricting.
Posted by: Paul | Aug 19, 2008 3:26:29 PM
No one would get through the vetting cleaner than Tim Kaine.
Besides his Virginia base, he maintains strong ties to the Midwest where he was raised and educated before attending Harvard Law.
Posted by: Keith | Aug 19, 2008 3:53:04 PM
Everyone knows Kaine would be a disasterous move by the Obama camapign and I just don't believe they would be that dumb.
It would definitely be the first time I would say the dems would lose.
I just don't think Obama is that dumb or that self focused.
If he picked Kaine that would give mcCain cover to pick Ridge and 2 vets on the ticvket would take Virginia Republican well over a mized review Governonr.
so this all just a distraction and you all are buying.
Posted by: dl | Aug 19, 2008 4:01:10 PM
A Obama/Kaine ticket will be the LEAST experienced ticket to EVER have run for the Presidency/VP.
If this happens I expect the GOP to run the SCARIEST 3am ads there ever were on television. They wouldn't even have to bring up Wright or Rezko at all.
I hope it isn't Kaine.
Posted by: vickie | Aug 19, 2008 4:07:26 PM
Zero-bama must have gone mad, keeping the person he thinks he would pick for his Vp. Perhaps, he is waiting to change his mind, but hopefully he would not come back to say that what he really meant to sent was the email he did not click.
Sorry, Powell, you lose. He really meant to pick Kerry.
Posted by: fact check | Aug 19, 2008 4:19:36 PM
Not Kaine I hope! Nice guy but not enough experience or name recognition. Really nice man however!
I would imagine that Obama will call each of the forerunners in the VP selection (those who went through the vetting process) to let them know they weren't selected.
I imagine Kaine had received that news this morning. If he had received news he WAS selected he would have continued to ACT glum........LOL
This is sooooo easy you guys!
It's such a GAME! hahahaha
Posted by: Jazziette | Aug 19, 2008 4:20:25 PM
Obama can shock the system
What about "Obama-Ayers"
Posted by: john | Aug 19, 2008 4:22:24 PM
Barack is still waiting for Michelle to tell him who the pick is.
Posted by: geevill | Aug 19, 2008 4:26:56 PM
Obama's too busy right now to announce his vP. He was out again this morning, protesting too much:
"Make no mistake, I love this country. I will let no one question my love of this country, I love America."
Posted by: Billw | Aug 19, 2008 4:41:19 PM
I would prefer Kathleen Sebelius but Tim Kaine is ok too. Both these GREAT governors have run red states and in Sebelius' state she exploited the growing split between moderates and the hard-line neocons and turned many state offices blue. I think she would also help close the hurt many women feel losing Clinton as their choice.
Posted by: Al in SoCal | Aug 19, 2008 4:43:16 PM
Only thing more irresponsible than inexperienced president is to add inexperienced vice president. If this happens, I'm going Republican.
Posted by: SullivanGrandfield | Aug 19, 2008 4:44:36 PM
Obama will surprise everyone and pick General Powell.
Posted by: Buster | Aug 19, 2008 4:46:24 PM
Obama needs Clinton as VP to win, but then maybe he himself will have the chance to be VP in Denver next week....
Posted by: Billw | Aug 19, 2008 4:48:02 PM
Governor Kaine strikes me as a political lap dog who will do as he is told and make a perfectly quiet VP in the shadows.
Who cares who Oscama chooses as the newest member of his proposed regime?
Posted by: Jayhawk | Aug 19, 2008 4:54:38 PM
"Who cares who Oscama chooses as the newest member of his proposed regime?"
Michelle?
Posted by: Billw | Aug 19, 2008 4:56:13 PM
I would like to put in a plug for "inexperience."
The absolutely most inexperienced President EVER had:
- never served as a Governor
- never served in the Cabinet
- never served in the Senate
- never served as an ambassador
- never served in his state's Senate
- had one term in the House, which ended in failure to be re-elected, 14 years before he ran for the Presidency.
Abraham Lincoln
Posted by: DaveP | Aug 19, 2008 4:56:25 PM
I can't believe people are mentioning John Kerry! Please NOOOOOOOO!!! Also, having any woman other than Hillary Clinton on the ticket will not satisfy this Clinton supporter. I could live with Joe Biden.
Posted by: NJ in LA | Aug 19, 2008 4:57:07 PM
As for Kathleen Sebelius, this Kansan will tell you that she is not of caliber for national office.
That probabaly means she would fit well in an Oscama regime.
Sebelius has spent more time stumping for Oscama than she has spent doing the job she was elected to do in Kansas.
While she was able to win two governor's races, she never had any real competition.
Sebelius has never had the courage or political ability to run against any of the incumbent Republicans that are current Senators or Representatives.
The only way for Sebelius to get elected to a national office at this point would to be appointed.
But, if it gets her out of Kansas, we can live with it here.
Posted by: Jayhawk | Aug 19, 2008 4:59:42 PM
It will be Joe Biden or Tim Kaine. OsiSpeaks.com
Posted by: KYJurisDoctor | Aug 19, 2008 5:05:21 PM
Tim Kaine commuted the death sentence of a TRIPLE murderer. I'm sure we will feel safe with him.
Posted by: lordy lordy | Aug 19, 2008 5:06:46 PM
Post a comment
