Democrat Hillary Clinton : Tim Kaine vice-presidential running mate

Hillary Clinton has chosen Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia as her running mate, she made the announcement via text message to supporters on Friday (July 22).

Kaine is said to provide a marginal electoral benefit in his home state, but in choosing him, Clinton is making making a safe bet that will help her present the Democratic ticket as a steady alternative to the unpredictable campaign of Republican presidential rival, Donald Trump.

Kaine speaks Spanish, so he can comfortably represent the ticket on Hispanic media, acting as a counter to a Republican ticket that is seen as hostile to Spanish speakers.

Kaine grew up in the Midwest and practice the Catholic faith. The Clinton campaign may have been worried about voters resistant to a ticket with two women, or a woman and a Latino or African-American.

Kaine, 58, edged out two other finalists – Cory Booker, a US senator from New Jersey, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, according to a Democratic source familiar with the discussions.

The selection of Kaine, a self-described “boring” Virginian with wide governing experience and a reputation for low-key competence, could appeal to independents and moderates but is likely to anger liberal groups who object to his advocacy for an Asian free-trade pact.

Clinton acknowledged in an interview earlier this week that even Kaine admits he is boring, she did not mind. “I love that about him,” she told Charlie Rose of CBS News and PBS. “He’s never lost an election. He was a world-class mayor, governor and senator and is one of the most highly respected senators I know.”

Kaine’s first appearance with Clinton could come on Saturday at an event in Miami.

The former secretary of state will be formally nominated as the party’s presidential candidate for the Nov. 8 election at next week’s Democratic convention in Philadelphia.

Clinton leads Trump in many opinion polls.

Fivethirtyeight reported, overall, Clinton seems to think she’s going to win this election without a Hail Mary pick. Even if Sanders voters don’t love her, Clinton currently has a better chance to win the election than Trump does.