Dems Encircle Vital Virginia

If 'dream ticket' doesn't materialize, Kaine, Webb are rising stars

(NEWSER) - Amid talk of an Obama-Clinton or Clinton-Obama dream ticket, Democrats may want to look around before leaving Virginia tonight—the state is home to not one but two viable vice presidential contenders, Politico reports. Obama has already short-listed Gov. Tim Kaine, a campaign co-chair who shares the senator's bipartisan charisma. And Sen. Jim Webb complements both presidential contenders. More»

DC mayor, Virginia gov. like Obama; Maryland chief backs Clinton

(NEWSER) - The three chief executives in Tuesday’s Potomac Primary don't agree on a candidate—it's two for Obama, one for Clinton—but all have strong ties with their candidate of choice, the Washington Post reports. And all three endorsed early:

• Virginia's Tim Kaine was the first governor outside Illinois to endorse Obama. They met in 2005 and struck an instant friendship: Both are Harvard law graduates who worked in civil rights; both have mothers with ties to the same small town in Kansas.

Va. governor has a thin resume, but much post-partisan appeal

(NEWSER) - In 10 years, Tim Kaine has steered a meteoric rise from mayor of Richmond to governor of Virginia to prospective Democratic VP candidate. In many ways, writes the New York Times, Kaine's story mirrors that of Barack Obama: a liberal who speaks openly about religion, he disdains Washington and has sought to bridge racial divides. But he has no foreign policy experience, and even the governor's supporters admit that his record is thin. More»

Va. gov lands under the microscope

(NEWSER) - Tim Kaine doesn’t like his vice presidential chances, the Wall Street Journal reports. “It's flattering to be mentioned,” he says. “My mom loves it. I still think it's more likely that he'll go in another direction.” His Kansas roots appeal to Midwestern voters, his fluent Spanish wins over Hispanics, and he’s governor of Virginia, a crucial swing state. So why aren’t state Republicans worried? More»

Says talks are 'very serious'; Biden, Bayh, Sebelius in contention

(NEWSER) - Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is in “very serious” talks about a spot on the Democratic ticket, sources tell the Washington Post. The 50-year-old has joined Sens. Evan Bayh, Joe Biden and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Barack Obama’s shortlist, bringing outsider credentials though no experience in foreign affairs, which is perceived as an Obama weakness. More»