Kaine accepts VP nod, blasts Trump as untrustworthy

PHILADELPHIA — Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine introduced himself Wednesday night to American voters by sharing his life story, with a heavy emphasis on his Jesuit upbringing and working-class roots, while demonstrating his ability to play the traditional vice presidential role of attack dog against Republican nominee Donald Trump.

After accepting the Democratic vice presidential nomination, Kaine presented his life story and went straight at Hillary Clinton's biggest challenge: that a significant number of Americans do not find her trustworthy. 

“I want to tell you why I trust Hillary Clinton,” he said, citing her record of advocating for kids and families; her foreign policy pedigree; her fight in Congress to secure funding after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; and her role in the Obama administration's decision to kill al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. 

“With Hillary, it’s not just words, it’s accomplishments." he said, before training his fire on Trump.

“You know who I don’t trust? Donald Trump. The guy promises a lot,” said Kaine. “He has a habit of saying the same two words right after he makes his biggest promises: 'Believe me,'" said Kaine. “His creditors, his contractors, his laid-off employees, his ripped-off students did just that, and they all got hurt. Folks, you cannot believe one word that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth.”

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Kaine, a mild-mannered former Virginia governor who joined the Democratic ticket with the former secretary of State over the weekend, is a popular figure in Congress, but also relatively low-key. For many Americans, it was the first time they've laid eyes on him. 

When it comes to executive experience and foreign policy credentials, he is considered a solid choice, with experience on the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees. His Spanish language fluency is also an asset, and he showed it off during his speech.

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Kaine also sought to appeal to the progressive wing of the party that was rooting for a more liberal pick for vice president, such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts or Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Clinton has referred to her running mate in a way she's described herself, as a “progressive who likes to get things done.”

In his acceptance speech, Kaine described his working-class roots, mentioning that his dad ran a union iron working shop. He also recounted attending a Jesuit boys school and how he took a year off law school to be a missionary in Honduras. 

“I got a first-hand look at a different system — a dictatorship, a dictatorship where a few people at the top had all the power and everybody else got left out," he said. Kaine cited his work as a civil rights lawyer fighting housing discrimination and an executive order he signed as Virginia governor keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. “These are the battles I’ve been fighting my entire life."

There are those who’ve been skeptical of the Virginia senator's ability to do combat with the outspoken real estate billionaire, who relishes publicly sparring with his opponents, as well as the Republican vice presidential nominee, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. The assumption is that, because Clinton wants to avoid responding to personal attacks from Trump, that responsibility will fall to her number two.

In the ticket’s debut on Saturday in Miami, Kaine previewed the frame he’ll use to define Trump, saying he would amount to a “you’re fired,” “me-first” and “trash talker” president. In Philadelphia, he used the words of Republicans who've criticized Trump, including former first lady Barbara Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. The governor whose state hosted his party's convention in Cleveland "wouldn't even attend it because he thinks Trump is such a moral disaster," said Kaine.

"So, do you believe him? Does anybody here believe him?" said Kaine. "We better elect the candidate who's proven she can be trusted with the job."

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While Kaine tried to reinforce his progressive bona fides during his speech, he made no mention of his recent shift on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement he had strongly supported but that is opposed by many on the left. Kaine now says he can’t support it in his current form, though many Sanders voters remain unconvinced.

That’s especially true after Clinton confidante Terry McAuliffe, the current Virginia governor, said that, as president, Clinton is likely to renegotiate the deal instead of rejecting it outright.

The Clinton campaign believes Kaine has the potential to draw in more moderate voters. As a practicing Catholic, he’s said he personally opposes abortion, though he’s voted to protect abortion rights.

“If any of you are looking for that party of Lincoln," Kaine said Wednesday to disaffected Republicans, "we’ve got a home for you right here in the Democratic Party.”

Before closing his remarks, Kaine returned to making the case for Clinton, something he'll spend the next three months doing as he crisscrosses the country. "She's ready because of her faith. She's ready because of her heart. She's ready because of her experience," said Kaine.