Tim Kaine, Virginia’s governor, is publicizing leaking the fact that he’s been having serious discussions with Obama about the VP slot on the ticket, according to the Michael Shear and Shaileigh “the Devil” Murray of The Washington Post:
Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has told close associates that he has had “very serious” conversations with Sen. Barack Obama about joining the Democratic presidential ticket and has provided documents to the campaign as it combs through his background, according to several sources close to Kaine. […]
Although rumors have circulated about former military leaders and other nontraditional contenders, including Republicans, Obama’s pool of prospects is heavy on longtime senators with foreign policy experience. Kaine and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius are the only state leaders believed to be under serious consideration, sources close to Obama said.
Well, he seems better than Biden or Bayh, which the article also mentions as under “serious consideration” by Obama’s vetting team, though that isn’t saying much. The real question is whether this leak was approved by the Obama camp, or is merely something Kaine did on his own initiative. If the former, its a way for Obama to test the waters regarding a Kaine candidacy without appearing to be the source of the leak. If the latter, I suspect it may be Kaine’s attempt to either raise his profile with the National Press for his own benefit or a bit of blatant campaigning for the job. Frankly, I have no idea, nor do I have any spectacular political instincts to help me read the tea leaves here.
Certainly Kaine could help Obama win Virginia, a fairly big state that has gone “red” the last several presidential election cycles, but certainly seems in play this year. Other than that, I don’t know what he brings to the ticket. Maybe one of you can tell me.