Hilarry Clinton chooses Kaine as Vice Presidency candidate

Hillary Clinton announced, yesterday during her campaign in Florida, that her choice for Vice President running-mate will be Tim Kaine. The presidential candidate for the U.S Democratic Party revealed her choice in a message to supporters late on Friday in a bid to regain prominence after the Republican convention in Cleveland. The week’s political events in the U.S had previously focused on Donald Trump’s antics during the last days of the Republican Convention, including his hesitant pick of Mike Pence as the vice presidential candidate. Mrs. Clinton is, however, now set to take centre-stage as her announcement had been long anticipated. Kaine, along with Tom Vilsack, was one of the two candidates reported to be remaining on Clinton’s shortlist for a running-mate. The announcement of Kaine gaining the coveted position over Vilsack has come as a shock to those that expected Vilsack’s close personal relationship with the Clinton’s to steal him the spot. Yet, factors

such as his strong support for a Trans-Pacific partnership, which Clinton has recently opposed, would have contributed to his loss. Also, Kaine’s reputation as a loyal figure could be what ultimately convinced Clinton that he was a safe and steady bet for the job. Clinton had explained that her top considerations for a pick were a good governing partner and someone who could step into the role of president if needed. Clearly, she believes that Kaine best meets these requirements. Other candidates included Labour Secretary, Tom Perez; who would have been the first Hispanic candidate for the party, Cory Booker; who, as an African-American would have represented a key piece of the Democrats’ demographic coalition, Sherrod Brown and Elizabeth Warren. Tim Kaine, a junior Senator from Virginia, was elected to the senate in 2012. He is an attorney and received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1983, after a B.A Degree in Economics from the University of Missouri in 1979. He was born in Minnesota but grew up in Kansas City. Elected to the Richmond City Council in 1994, Kaine later served as Mayor (from 1998-2001). Kaine is fluent in Spanish, having worked with Jesuit missionaries in Honduras for nine months between 1980 and 1981. This could help Clinton’s campaign reach out to Hispanic voters in places such as Florida, where she is currently campaigning.