I didn’t know much about Tim Kaine. I remembered that he was one of the first to endorse his friend Barack Obama and that he was very popular in his state. But not much more. I listened as people described him as boring and a member of the establishment and thought his pick would make it that much harder to beat he-who-must-be-beaten.
What a sweet surprise to hear him speak at the rally in Miami today! The first word that came to mind as I watched him, was authentic. Tim Kaine looks and sounds authentic. He was comfortable on stage. He injected humor in his presentation and it seemed right. He was good. Really, really good.
His story is one of fighting for the least among us. He spoke flawless Spanish even while not giving the appearance of pandering. He told his story and his wife’s story in a manner devoid of the boastfulness or self-righteousness that we have been subjected to in the last months. Tim Kaine was a much-needed breath of fresh air.
Congratulations, Mrs. Clinton! You done good!
xHelp welcome @TimKaine to the team. Get your sticker today to show your support: https://t.co/BJ0H3RD4d0#ClintonKaine
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 23, 2016This tweet echoes my feelings:
xI’ve gone from meh yesterday to absolutely gobsmacked at how great a pick Tim Kaine is.
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) July 23, 2016 xGreat VP rollout of @timkaine. Kind, humble, and smart. No screaming. Breath of fresh air. #ClintonKaine
— Zadi Diaz (@Zadi) July 23, 2016 x.@HillaryClinton rolls out Virginia Sen. @timkaine as her running mate https://t.co/uGwDisCb6Qpic.twitter.com/ymdcGSekhU
— POLITICO (@politico) July 23, 2016We should have had a Live Blog of the rally in Miami. Consider this diary a vehicle to welcome Senator Kaine to the stage. Let's show him some love.