What impresses me most about Tim Kaine is his synergy and drive. He is noted to be a hard campaigner. He speaks Spanish and worked in the Catholic ministry in the Honduras. He was the underdog in a hard fought battle for Governor and moved ahead in the polls near the end of the campaign by waging tough arguments against his opponent while running a positive campaign. But, what I like most about Tim Kaine is that he seems to be able to connect with people in a very strong and sincere way. I think Kaine would win votes in the Appalachian regions as well.
Here is a closer look at Tim Kaine.
Tim Kaine was the first governor outside of the State of Illinois to endorse Barack Obama during a time when HRC was deemed to be the inevitable candidate. Kaine is reported to have a strong political relationship with Obama.
Kaine, who like Obama is a Harvard-educated civil rights lawyer, has made no secret of his admiration for the senator. Obama campaigned for Kaine in 2005 and joined him on the stump last year on behalf of U.S. Sen. James Webb (D). Obama's mother was from Kansas, where Kaine grew up
Governor Tim Kaine practiced law in Richmond for 17 years, representing people who had been denied housing opportunities because of their race or disability. He won many precedent-setting cases in this area and was recognized by local, state and national organizations for his fair-housing advocacy. Kaine also taught legal ethics for six years at the University of Richmond Law School.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/...
Tim Kaine also thinks the world of Obama.
"Sen. Obama is just in a completely different category than anybody I've ever stood on a stage with," Kaine said in the Jan. 31 interview. "There is just a feeling of, you know, kind of a projection of hope on him from an audience that is just unreal. It's unreal."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Tim Kaine has had some national attention when he was given the opportunity to provide the Democrats Response to Bush’s 2006 State of the Union Address. And Kaine has achieved high approval ratings within his State as Governor. He touts fiscal responsibility and management as one of his greatest achievements as Governor. He also knows how to discuss his religious beliefs in a way that is attractive to Southerners.
Kaine outsmarted Republicans by taking a page from their playbook and running a faith-based campaign that stressed his Catholic values.
http://www.virginiabusiness.com/edit/magazine/yr2006/jan06/kaine2.shtml
Nevertheless, one concern raised about Tim Kaine is his position on reproductive issues. During Tim Kaine’s Governor’s run he was not endorsed by NARAL because he stated that he approves certain restrictions on access to an abortion.
"Tim Kaine . . . has said he would not sign such legislation, but he embraces many of the restrictions on a woman's right to choose that are opposed by NARAL," the group's statement said. "We cannot therefore offer any endorsement in this year's race for governor."
Kaine, a practicing Catholic, said he has a religious opposition to abortion and has at times declared himself to be "pro-life." He also wants to ban the procedure that opponents call "partial birth" abortion and supports parental consent and notification laws.
But he also said he is a "pro-choice" candidate who does not want to criminalize women or doctors involved in abortions.
"My position on this issue is firm," Kaine said in a statement. "I support appropriate and reasonable checks on the right to abortion, including a ban on partial-birth abortion, so we can protect women's health and ensure this monumental decision is made with all the facts in hand."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
However, since then Kaine has received some praise from the NARAL and Planned Parenthood.
Governor Tim Kaine recently cut off funding for abstinence-only programs in Virginia's public schools. The move makes Virginia the 14th state to reject the failed abstinence-only programs backed by George W. Bush.
Planned Parenthood of Virginia, which had lobbied for the change in policy, sent out a statement Monday praising Kaine for joining its nationwide campaign to eliminate abstinence-only programs, which urge youths to refrain from sex until marriage.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
http://www.naralva.org/...
So I think there is promise with Tim Kaine on the ticket.
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