Barring some implosion, it looks like Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic presidential nominee. Unless former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, Vice President Joe Biden, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee or some other Democrat run a tough and inspiring campaign, Mrs. Clinton will be the Democratic presidential candidate.
The vice presidential choice will come into full spectrum once the 2016 Democratic primaries are concluded. Who will Clinton choose as her running mate? He're some possibles-
Julian Castro-HUD Secretary. He's a young Latino, was mayor of San Antonio, TX. Was Keynote Speaker at the 2012 Democratic Nat'l Convention in Charlotte, N.C., gave a good speech. Some say that he'll be another Palin/Quayle, not ready to be president should anything happen, can't bring Texas or any other state?
Cory Booker-New Jersey senator. Young, could appeal to African-Americans and young voters, independents. But some progressives see Booker as too DLC/Third Way. New Jersey should be Democratic regardless of if Booker is on the ticket.
Mark Warner-Virginia senator. Good choice. Moderate, could appeal to swing state voters in Virginia and a smart fundraiser. But Warner barely won re-election in 2014 midterms to GOP lobbyist Ed Gillespie. Would Warner be a game-changer? That remains to be seen.
Martin O'Malley-Former Maryland governor and possible 2016 Democratic candidate. O'Malley is a tough progressive. He would be a safe choice. He appeals to progressives. But does he want to play second fiddle to Hillary? What does he bring to the ticket?
Other veep choices could include: Evan Bayh, Sherrod Brown, Dick Gephardt, Bill Nelson, Amy Kloubchar, Ed Rendell, etc.
However, I think there is one choice that would be a safe and solid choice. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine.
Kaine has working class roots. He was born in Minnesota, what is likely to be a battleground state. He was raised in Missouri, a red-leaning state, that Kaine could add if he is on the ticket, and most important, he lives in Virginia. He was Virginia governor, DNC chair. He is vetted. Then Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in 2008 almost picked Kaine as his vice presidential running mate in 2008. Kaine is vetted within the Democratic Party. He has legislative experience. Kaine is fluent in Spanish, which will be critical in 2016 with Latino voters. He was a civil rights lawyer, and could appeal well with African-American voters as he did in his 2005 gubernatorial election over GOPer Jerry Kilgore and 2012 Senate election victory over former Sen. George Allen. He could appeal in the Deep South, not only Virginia, North Carolina. He could appeal in the Midwest. Put Kaine in Southfield, Michigan, Scranton, Pa., Smithville, Mo., Xenia, Ohio, etc. Kaine can appeal to the working class voters.
What are the downsides to Kaine? Some say he's dull, uninspiring. That he may not be a good attack dog in the campaign trail.
That he may depress minority turnout. He didn't do a great job as DNC chair from 2009-2011. Some say that Kaine, a Southerner abandoned Howard Dean's 50 state strategy. Some say he won't deliver Virginia or any other state. Some would say go with the safest, do-no-harm choice like a Bayh-he would not overshadow Hillary.
My view: They say that vice presidential choices don't matter, they don't make a difference. That no one watches the vice presidential debate. But I think Kaine would be a good choice for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
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