Amid VP Speculation, Kaine Joins Clinton on Campaign Trail

Amid VP Speculation, Kaine Joins Clinton on Campaign Trail
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, accompanied by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., right, speaks at a rally at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, Thursday, July 14, 2016. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
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ANNADALE, Va.—Hillary Clinton campaigned alongside Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine on Thursday afternoon, making a high-profile appearance with one of the leading contenders for a spot alongside her on the presidential ticket.

Kaine, a popular lawmaker from an important general election battleground state, is considered to be a safe pick, one that could help Clinton woo moderates turned off by Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric.

An early Clinton backer, Kaine tested out attack lines against Trump before several hundred gathered at a community college auditorium, assailing the GOP nominee as unqualified, untested and untrustworthy. Fluent in Spanish, he showed off his language skills, laughed at Clinton’s jokes and nodded energetically at her applause lines.

“Do you want a ‘you’re fired’ president or a ‘you’re hired’ president,” asked Kaine. “Do you want a trash talking president or a bridge building president?”

The appearance comes as Clinton moves into the final stages of picking her vice president, with an announcement expected as soon as next week. The shortlist includes Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a favorite of progressives who has emerged as a blistering critic of presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump; Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro of Texas, a rising star in the Democratic Party; and Kaine.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, left, takes photographs with members of the audience after speaking at a rally at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, July 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, left, takes photographs with members of the audience after speaking at a rally at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, July 14, 2016. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik