Hillary Clinton officially introduces Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate in Miami
Jul 23, 2016, 11:12 AM
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., take the stage at a rally at Florida International University Panther Arena in Miami, Saturday, July 23, 2016. Clinton has chosen Kaine to be her running mate. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton took the stage in Miami Saturday to introduce Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate.
Clinton’s common theme throughout the speech was that Kaine is very experienced and would hit the ground running if put into office this election year. She added that the biggest thing she looked for in picking her potential Vice President was if the candidate would be well suited to lead the country if necessary.
“He is qualified to step into this job and lead day-one,” Clinton said. “He is a progressive who likes to get things done.”
Kaine, who said he is one of 20 Americans in history to serve as a mayor, governor and U.S. Senator, has been a Sen. since 2012. He first was elected to any political office in 1994, and was inaugurated in 2006 to become governor of Virginia.
Clinton said that Kaine was able to do things in his state of Virginia that many wouldn’t even try, and that proves how strong he can lead if put into office.
“Make no mistake, behind that smile, Tim has a backbone of steel,” Clinton said. “Just ask the NRA. Over and over again, he’s had the courage to stand up to the gun lobbying in their own backyard.”
Kaine began his first speech since being named Clinton’s running mate in Spanish, and said many different things in Spanish throughout the rally.
Kaine, who told the crowd that Clinton is the complete opposite of Trump, made a couple of promises on what the team would do if elected.
“We are going to make the American economy work for everybody, not just those at the top,” Kaine said. “We will make college debt-free for everybody.”
One of the biggest statements that the crowd enjoyed throughout the rally was after Clinton refuted a lot of what Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said in his acceptance speech on Thursday at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
“I have to say that Sen. Tim Kaine is everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not,” Clinton said.
Clinton originally made the announcement to make Kaine her running mate Friday through her Twitter account.
I'm thrilled to announce my running mate, @TimKaine, a man who's devoted his life to fighting for others. -H pic.twitter.com/lTVyfztE5Z
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 23, 2016
The Democratic National Convention will be taking place in Philadelphia starting Monday.
