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Hillary Clinton 2016 Presidential Campaign

Clinton calls Kaine 'my kind of guy,' as Democratic ticket makes its debut

Heidi M. Przybyla
USA TODAY

MIAMI — Hillary Clinton introduced her new running mate, Tim Kaine, as a “progressive" who is “everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not," while Kaine highlighted his working-class roots and also took aim at Trump, as the former secretary of State and Virginia senator made their debut as the Democratic presidential ticket.

Hillary Clinton arrives with Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., at a rally at Florida International University Panther Arena in Miami on July 23, 2016.

"He is qualified to step into this job and lead on day one," Clinton said of Kaine. She also described him in a way she's previously characterized herself, as “a progressive who likes to get things done."

"That's just my kind of guy," she added.

The most important criteria in her choice was Kaine’s fitness to immediately assume the presidency, Clinton said, in rejecting criticism from some progressives that he’s not a fighter for their causes.

“Behind that smile is a backbone of steel,” said Clinton, in introducing Kaine to a crowd of more than 5,000 supporters at Florida International University.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Clinton described Kaine as someone who’s fought for stricter gun laws, education funding and veterans issues.

6 things to know about Tim Kaine

Breaking out into Spanish in his introduction and at several points during his speech, Kaine showed his eagerness to play the traditional vice presidential role as attack dog.

He went straight at Trump, the billionaire businessman who is the GOP’s new presidential nominee. “He leaves a trail of broken promises and wrecked lives wherever he goes,” said Kaine.

He cited recent comments by Trump that raised question about his commitment to defending NATO allies as well as controversial remarks the real estate mogul made last summer about Arizona Sen. John McCain's time as a prisoner of war.

“And he wants to be commander in chief?” Kaine said of the Republican nominee, calling Clinton “the direct opposite of Donald Trump." Kaine also gave the audience a lengthy autobiography, acknowledging “for many of you, it may be the first time you’ve heard my name.”

Throughout his remarks, Kaine touted Clinton's credentials as a potential commander in chief.

“She doesn’t trash our allies; she respects them," the Virginia senator said of Clinton, adding that "Hillary knows that we're stronger together."

Hillary Clinton speaks as Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., left, looks on during a rally July 23, 2016, in Miami that marked the debut of the Democratic presidential ticket.

Trump weighed in on Twitter following the rally, saying the Democratic ticket didn't "look presidential" to him.

After considering potential picks like Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Clinton is calculating that Kaine, a Virginia senator and former governor who comes from a working-class background, will help her beat Trump by drawing in independent and moderate voters.

The big question is whether Kaine’s pick will also unnerve progressive Democrats who had been hoping for a more liberal candidate out of respect for Clinton's fierce primary battle with Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Some progressives reacted critically to the pick, while Sanders has remained silent, a response that may be telling. The pick also comes as leaked emails from the Democratic National Committee show there were discussions among top party officials about how to attack the Vermont senator, a development sure to anger his followers whom Clinton is now counting on.

DNC emails show hostility to Sanders; one calls campaign chief 'damn liar'

The Democratic National Convention kicks off Monday in Philadelphia.

The goal of Kaine’s rollout and the party convention next week in Philadelphia is to draw a contrast with a Republican Party that Democrats say is spreading a message of doom and negativity. Clinton, in beginning her remarks, looked at the crowd and said it was “like a breath of fresh air” after watching the GOP convention in Cleveland.

Kaine highlighted, among other things, the role of his Catholic faith, his work as a college student missionary in Honduras and his work as a civil rights lawyer representing people who’d been discriminated against based on race or disabilities. He also discussed his childhood, including the fact that his father was a union-organized iron worker.

Analysis: Hillary Clinton goes with her heart in choosing Tim Kaine as her running mate

“It’s a good pick. It’s a safe pick,” said Matthew Wilson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, of Kaine. “Kaine doesn’t have many vulnerabilities or weaknesses. He won’t fire up the liberal base, but Hillary Clinton thinks Donald Trump will do that.”

While Kaine has a record of fighting for a number of causes important to liberal Democrats, like fair housing and gun control, he has also supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade pact with Pacific Rim nations that is a major flash point with the left and also opposed by Trump. Neither Clinton nor Kaine mentioned trade during their remarks.

Kaine is a swing state lawmaker with extensive governing experience — as a former governor, lieutenant governor and Richmond mayor. And he may also help bring in more white male voters.

Trump tries to use Kaine pick to attract Sanders backers

Vice presidential candidates are expected to be aggressive on the stump in going after opponents, but the Virginia senator, who is popular on Capitol Hill, described himself as “boring" in a recent television experience.

"He is a genuinely nice person, but Tim is no one's punching bag. He will fight tooth and nail for American families, and he'll be a dogged fighter in our campaign," Clinton said in a letter to supporters Friday night.

Trump immediately sought to highlight the potential Democratic Party divisions the Kaine pick could magnify. In a tweet prior to Saturday's rally, the GOP nominee contended that Sanders supporters are “furious.” He also said Kaine is “owned by the banks.”

While Sanders, who is scheduled to address the Democratic convention Monday, has been mum for the moment on Kaine, other liberals are responding.

"The mood of the country is a populist one,” said Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee in reacting to the selection. “Republicans will run hard against Democrats on trade this year. Unfortunately, since Tim Kaine voted to fast track the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Republicans now have a new opening to attack Democrats on this economic populist issue.”

Still, Sanders' most powerful proxy — Sen. Warren — signaled she’ll continue to do combat with Trump, who again called her "Pocahontas" and said "Hillary hates her" on Twitter.

“I’m right where I want to be … Calling you out and holding you responsible for your reckless vision for America,” Warren tweeted.

Warren responds to Trump on not getting VP: I'm 'right where I want to be'

In wrapping his remarks, Kaine returned to a theme he's now used twice on the stump against Trump. He said the businessman has shipped jobs overseas, stiffed contractors, opposes a federal minimum wage and equal pay laws for women, calling him a "you're fired president," a "trash talker" and a "me-first" president.

Kaine said that voters should judge politicians by examining their biographies to "see if they have a passion in their life long before they got into politics ... a passion that's not about themselves."

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