Since Hillary Clinton announced her Tim Kaine as her choice for vice president there have been some grumbles from those on the left of the Democratic Party. However, I think her choice of Kaine for vice president is a good one.
The most important factor in choosing a VP is whether the person is ready to be president. Tim Kaine is just that: he is a senator, former Virginia governor, former Richmond mayor and former progressive civil rights lawyer who defended the common man against big business. He is a fluent Spanish speaker, having spent time as a missionary in Latin America, and is well respected by all in Washington.
No VP choice could have been the darling to all. Some choices might have had more star power, but in the end the choice of VP is not about star power but competency. Tim Kaine meets that threshold and then some. Maybe his pick is not as exciting as others, but exciting only goes so far if competency is not there, and if you disagree go ask John McCain how his exciting wild card, game changing pick of Sarah Palin worked out for him.
No vice presidential pick has impacted the presidential race since 1960 when John F. Kennedy chose Lyndon Baines Johnson and carried Texas as a result. The average American voter does not really care who the VP nominee is as long as the person is qualified. If they did George H.W. Bush would have never been elected president after choosing Dan Quayle.
If after last night’s performance by Donald Trump some liberals stay home and do not vote for Hillary Clinton because of her choice of Tim Kaine for VP they are, in effect, supporting Trump, and that is unacceptable in my book. He is a good choice and would make an excellent vice president, and more importantly, president if the unthinkable should happen.