Update: Kaine’s stock rising?

By Jay Warren
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: July 11, 2008

I have a quick veep-stakes update.

Earlier this week, I talked about Governor Tim Kaine’s chances of becoming Barack Obama’s running mate. I won’t go back over the pros and cons again, but since my posting two national journalists have ranked the possible running mates and our governor has faired quite well.

Today, The Fix, a blog written by Chris Cillizza at the Washington Post, ranks Kaine first. Cillizza has written extensively on the advantages and disadvantages of adding Kaine to the ticket, but today pointed to his close relationship with Obama as the primary reason he got the #1 spot on his list.

Earlier in the week, conservative columnist Robert Novak came out with his vice presidential pick list. While his picks don’t necessarily appear to be in any order, he did list Kaine first and talked about what he brings to the ticket. And again, Novak says it’s the close bond Obama and Kaine formed several years ago that makes him a likely pick.

In my posting, I also surmised that if Kaine gets the nod it will not be because of his leadership in Virginia or his ability to lock down the state for Obama or his stand on the issues. It will be because of the friendship he has with Obama and Obama’s level of trust with our governor. And while I agree with Cillizza and Novak on that point, I somewhat disagree that that makes Kaine the top pick (this week). Rather, it makes him the emotional choice. For Obama to go in that direction, he would have to be very confident of his chances in November.

One this is for sure: Kaine is no doubt under consideration.