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Kaine Obama's VP Pick? 'I Really Don't Know,' He Said

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August 20, 2008 4:29 PM

ABC News' Jennifer Duck reports from Newport News, Va.: Potential Obama vice presidential pick Gov. Tim Kaine is driving all over the state today in what sure looks like a full scale presidential campaign, but his press secretary Gordon Hickey says the governor does these "cabinet day" tours around different cities a few times a year and this has been "long-planned."

Veepbeat_generic_blog_4 That said, the Virginia governor is traveling in a black Chevy Trailblazer while a large bus full of staff trails behind him.

At his most recent stop, number three of five, Kaine was addressed with a big smile as the "future vice president" by Commissioner Mike Kuzma. 

Kuzma told ABC News after the event, "I had a crystal ball but I dropped it on the way here ... I don't know if he will get it," he said of Obama's vice-presidential slot, "but I hope he does."

Mayor Joe Frank of Newport News, Virginia introduced the governor to a group of senior citizens, predicting with a smile Kaine may get the call at any time.

"I offered to hold his phone while he was speaking," the town mayor said. "He told me it wasn't necessary. So if all the sudden he stops talking we should understand."

Kaine was caught, off camera, whispering to one official at the event saying, "I really don't know" who Obama will choose.

Asked directly by reporters for the second time today if he received a call from Obama, Kaine dodged saying that's "for the Obama campaign to announce."

When asked earlier in the day if he had spoken to Obama, Kaine said "I'm going to leave the speculators to speculate."

The attention by fellow Virginians lobbying for him to have the role of vice president was very apparent but Kaine brushed it off saying, "I think they are loving the excitement."

UPDATE: Kaine refused to confirm a Politico report that Obama is staying the night tonight at the Virginia governor's mansion.

"I'm not going to talk about my interactions with the campaign," Kaine said with a coy smile before he ducked into his car. However Obama's spokeswoman Jen Psaki told ABC News' Sunlen Miller that Obama would be staying in a Virginia hotel tonight.

For more ABC News coverage of the veepstakes click HERE and HERE.

August 20, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis, Romney, Mitt, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (56)

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Obama probably doesn't even know himself. He cannot make a decision.

Posted by: geevill | Aug 20, 2008 4:33:39 PM

McCain talks about selecting a "pro-choicer" and there is talk about the party imploding. Obama considers an inexperienced, "anti-choice" candidate (Kaine) and nobody says anything. What is wrong with this picture? Where are the party activists to say "no way, no how"? So much for "liberals" controlling the Democratic party.

Posted by: Disheartened | Aug 20, 2008 4:40:56 PM

It leaked and it's Hillary

Posted by: jim | Aug 20, 2008 4:43:16 PM

who cares at this point.

purely phony business by a pure Phony.

Posted by: Olbermn3 | Aug 20, 2008 4:43:27 PM

I think we'll know Friday, when the Obama campaign said we'll know.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 20, 2008 4:46:29 PM

Nobody is pro-abortion. It's a nasty business indeed. But it doesn't matter if a candidate is pro-choice or pro-life - Roe v. Wade isn't going away. Not even Bush in his 8 years and all the conservative Supreme Court Justices could make a difference. You can't legislate morality. A woman has to decide for herself whether to have a child - the President, the Vice President and the Supreme Court cannot decide for her - and making it illegal won't make it go away either. It's sad, for certain. But woman have got to control their own behavior and try to prevent conception if they are not ready for child-rearing. It's basically that simple.

Posted by: geecee | Aug 20, 2008 4:47:51 PM

The USS Obama Titanic keeps lumbering along. Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, George Soros and the other unrepetent terrorists, America-haters, racists and felons that Obama has partnered with the last 20 years are enjoying drinks on the deck, laughing and speculating about what will be on the menu for their first dinner in the White House.

But there is an iceberg ahead.

After November, when people talk about colossal failures, they will mention the movies “Ishtar” and “Heaven’s Gate” – and the Obama campaign.

Posted by: Jolly Roger | Aug 20, 2008 4:51:15 PM

Geevil:

And even if he does make a decision by this weekend, he will change his mind all over again at least four or five times between now and the end of the convention next week.

Posted by: SandyB | Aug 20, 2008 4:52:51 PM

geecee - you did make a key point. Outlawing abortion (or more precisely, giving states the option to do that) will just set up a black market for abortions. And that will come with all the horrors we experienced before in the "back alleys."

You also are certainly correct that the solution is to avoid conception until ready. However, history also tells us that isn't going to happen.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 20, 2008 4:55:12 PM

McCain should pick someone his equal in brains and ability. Someone like Gov. William J. LePeomaine. ;-)

Posted by: EdDoc | Aug 20, 2008 5:08:50 PM

Actually I know both picks, but just don't want to tell you guys.

Posted by: Paul | Aug 20, 2008 5:09:39 PM

Given Obama's past history, chances are he will announce his VP pick and then see what the polls say. He will then continue to switch his choice until he finds someone the pollsters say will help him win.

Sadly, that person will be Hillary Clinton.

Posted by: JA | Aug 20, 2008 5:19:13 PM

" She pointed out that McCain reacted too quickly with "aggressive and bellicose" rhetoric on the Russia-Georgia crisis, and contrasted that with Obama's measured response to the dust-up."

Are you kidding me??? McCain could answer DECISIVELY because he understand the Georgia conflict, and Russia's ambitions.

Obama kept having to guess at what to say until FINALLY he reached McCain's position.

And they are using this as an example of why Obama is better??? LOL

Posted by: Jeremy | Aug 20, 2008 5:20:49 PM

Bhrandon:

Uhhh....no.....mmmmm.....The moron is the one who claims the answer to a vital question on a vital issue in a presidential campaign is:
uh, uh, uh, "Above my pay grade" uhh...duh...mmmm.....

Posted by: SandyB | Aug 20, 2008 5:21:16 PM

Interesting to note Ralph Nader said that McCain destroyed Obama at Saddleback.

I bet Nader is also tired of seeing a candidate REFUSE to debate and REFUSE to take determinate positions that he won't switch every other week.

Who is Barack Obama?? 1 year and we still don't know. The Barack Obama of today is VERY VERY different than the Barack Obama of 1 year ago. Where will he be in 3 months? 6 months?

Posted by: JA | Aug 20, 2008 5:24:54 PM

Barack Obama of 2007:
- I will aggressively pursue a publicly financed campaign.
- I will meet without preconditions leaders of rogue nations
- I will NOT drill, I am an environmentalist to the core
- I am the most radical pro choicer in Senate, and support partial birth abortions gone awry to be carried through to completion.

Barack Obama of 2008:
- I will not agree to a publicly financed campaign
- I will meet with leaders of rogue nations with "preparations" (??). ok, I wouldn't meet with Ahmenijad himself.
- OK, maybe I'd drill.
- Regarding abortion rights......give me a few more weeks, I need to see what the polls say.

Posted by: JA | Aug 20, 2008 5:28:26 PM

Vital issue? Please! Non-issue is more like it.

Posted by: Llama in Pajama's | Aug 20, 2008 5:29:19 PM

If you love Senator Barack Obama enough to join his fan club you'll love higher taxes, massive federal spending, government-run health care and higher gas prices. Despite Senator Obama's lack of experience and readiness to lead, he's still considered dreamy and deserves an amazing fan club - he just doesn't deserve to be our next president.

Empty Slogans are for Kool Aid drinkers

Posted by: Samantha | Aug 20, 2008 5:30:28 PM

JA,

Do you get paid to lie, or just do it for fun? Sad and pathetic little troll.

BTW - McCain supports brining back the draft. Said so today. Hope your friends and family are the first to go!

Posted by: Llama in Pajama's | Aug 20, 2008 5:31:31 PM

Oh he will reintroduce the draft, but the kids of those making $5,000,0000 a year or more will be exempt. Can't have the future of America wasted in a war.

Posted by: Thinking | Aug 20, 2008 5:32:29 PM

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