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Hillary Clinton running mate Tim Kaine battles Trump with optimism | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine - Democrat Hillary Clinton's newly announced presidential running mate - has made his national debut, saying: "America was not built on fear". | |
Mr Kaine's upbeat remarks contrasted with Republican Donald Trump's pessimistic convention speech. | |
The 58-year-old moderate Democrat could appeal to Republicans who have been unsettled by Mr Trump's candidacy. | |
However, the pick is seen as a blow to more left-leaning Democrats. | However, the pick is seen as a blow to more left-leaning Democrats. |
Mrs Clinton's one-time rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, waged a strong campaign, championing liberal causes such as universal health care coverage. | Mrs Clinton's one-time rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, waged a strong campaign, championing liberal causes such as universal health care coverage. |
In part, Mr Kaine's introduction sought to assure those voters of the senator's left-wing credentials. | |
"If you want to be right, be a pessimist, if you want to do right, be an optimist," Mr Kaine said, recalling his time fighting housing discrimination as a young lawyer. "I like to do right." | |
Mrs Clinton said Mr Kaine was "everything Donald Trump is not". | |
"He is a progressive who likes to get things done. That's just my kind of guy," Mrs Clinton said of Mr Kaine. | |
The Trump campaign attacked the choice, dubbing the senator "Corrupt Kaine". | The Trump campaign attacked the choice, dubbing the senator "Corrupt Kaine". |
As governor of Virginia, Mr Kaine accepted about $160,000 worth of gifts from political supporters, which was legal under the state's lax gift laws. | As governor of Virginia, Mr Kaine accepted about $160,000 worth of gifts from political supporters, which was legal under the state's lax gift laws. |
"If you think Crooked Hillary and Corrupt Kaine are going to change anything in Washington, it's just the opposite," said Jason Miller, spokesman for the Trump campaign. | "If you think Crooked Hillary and Corrupt Kaine are going to change anything in Washington, it's just the opposite," said Jason Miller, spokesman for the Trump campaign. |
On Twitter, Mr Trump sought to drive a wedge between the Clinton campaign and voters who supported Mr Sanders in the Democratic primary. | On Twitter, Mr Trump sought to drive a wedge between the Clinton campaign and voters who supported Mr Sanders in the Democratic primary. |
Several Republicans senators praised the choice, including Arizona Senator Jeff Flake. | Several Republicans senators praised the choice, including Arizona Senator Jeff Flake. |
"Trying to count the ways I hate @timkaine. Drawing a blank. Congrats to a good man and a good friend," he wrote. | "Trying to count the ways I hate @timkaine. Drawing a blank. Congrats to a good man and a good friend," he wrote. |
A former mayor and governor, Mr Kaine is an experienced politician and has been thoroughly vetted. He was on the short list to be Barack Obama's running mate in 2008. | A former mayor and governor, Mr Kaine is an experienced politician and has been thoroughly vetted. He was on the short list to be Barack Obama's running mate in 2008. |
His home state of Virginia is seen as a key battleground in the election. Vice-presidential candidates can typically give tickets a slight advantage in their home states. | His home state of Virginia is seen as a key battleground in the election. Vice-presidential candidates can typically give tickets a slight advantage in their home states. |
Mr Kaine embraced the typical role of the running mate, attacking the rival nominee. | |
He called on Mr Trump to release his tax returns and criticised his business dealings, including his Atlantic City casinos and Trump University. | |
"Trump leaves a trail of wrecked lives everywhere he goes," Mr Kaine said. | |
Mr Kaine also speaks fluent Spanish, which could help the Clinton campaign's outreach with Latinos - a key voting bloc. | Mr Kaine also speaks fluent Spanish, which could help the Clinton campaign's outreach with Latinos - a key voting bloc. |
On Saturday, Mr Kaine frequently spoke to the crowd in Miami in Spanish. | |
"Bienvenidos a todos en nuestro pais. Porque somos Americanos todos. [Welcome everyone to our country, because we are all Americans]," Mr Kaine said to cheers. | |
However, left-wing Democrats have questioned his stances on banking reform and abortion rights. | However, left-wing Democrats have questioned his stances on banking reform and abortion rights. |
A Catholic, Mr Kaine personally opposes abortion and has favoured restrictions on late-term or "partial birth" abortions. | A Catholic, Mr Kaine personally opposes abortion and has favoured restrictions on late-term or "partial birth" abortions. |
Also, he was recently among 70 senators who signed a letter urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau not to enact regulations that could harm community banks and credit unions. | Also, he was recently among 70 senators who signed a letter urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau not to enact regulations that could harm community banks and credit unions. |
The Democratic Party is already pushing back, enlisting President Obama to vouch for Mr Kaine. | The Democratic Party is already pushing back, enlisting President Obama to vouch for Mr Kaine. |
"Like Hillary, Tim is an optimist. But like Hillary, he is also a progressive fighter," Mr Obama wrote. | "Like Hillary, Tim is an optimist. But like Hillary, he is also a progressive fighter," Mr Obama wrote. |
The Democrats' four-day convention starts on Monday in Philadelphia with speeches by First Lady Michelle Obama and Mr Sanders. | The Democrats' four-day convention starts on Monday in Philadelphia with speeches by First Lady Michelle Obama and Mr Sanders. |