Let me point at some information that might help provide a more complete picture.
First, disclosure — we are friends, and he was on my education panel at the first Yearly Kos in Las Vegas in 2006. That said, I am also acquainted with Tim Kaine, and as I have made clear, I am personally comfortable with either former Governor.
Second, Tom Vilsack is still listed as a member of Daily Kos, although at this point he probably does not remember his password. Here is his user page. He published a total of 13 diaries here.
He has recently been featured in several NBC stories. The first, Is Potential Clinton VP Tom Vilsack the Best-Kept Secret in Politics?, was written before he recently returned to Mount Pleasant Iowa, to which he moved with his wife Christie after he completed law school, and where he became mayor after his predecessor was murdered. You will see mention of a number of people who were involved in his own campaign for President before he withdraw and supported Clinton in the 2008 cycle, including current White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest. The quality of his staff, and the high regard in which he has been held by people across the political divide comes across.
The second was produced after he returned to Mount Pleasant, for the dedication of a memorial to his murdered predecessor. Donald Trump Reminds Me of Bernie Madoff, Tom Vilsack Says has a title that shows Tom Vilsack can effectively go after the Republican nominee.
I realize that he still considered a dark horse, that most would think the choice is probably between Kaine and Perez, with still an outside possibility of Warren. I would not discount the possibility of Vilsack, given both his long relationship with Hillary Clinton, his very successful tenure as Governor of Iowa, and the fact that he has a strong relationship with President Obama — he is the last remaining original member of the President’s cabinet.
I remind people that beyond his strong appeal in Iowa, he is a native of Pennsylvania and like another vice Presidential nominee who originated in that state but is connected with another (Delaware’s Joe Biden) has the potential to help lock down that state completely.
Anyhow, since his name has been being mentioned more frequently, I thought I would share this.
And let me add this personal note. I have been involved in politics since my pre-teens. Living as I do in the immediate DC area and having been politically active since moving to Arlington VA in 1982, I have gotten to know a fair number of high ranking public officials, local, state, and federal. I say without hesitation that Tom Vilsack is as honest and forthright a person as I have met in politics, as fine a public servant as I know, and a person whose friendship I value on a very personal level as well. Whether or not he is the VP nominee, he will work very hard to ensure the election of the Democratic ticket. As VP or in any other capacity, he would be a wonderful and productive part of the administration of President Hillary Clinton.