Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton announced Friday evening that she was choosing Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia as her running mate.
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
Amy Chozick of the New York Times reported that Clinton’s choice of a swing-state politician with a blue-collar background and Spanish language skills would bolster her chances against Donald Trump in November.
Kaine is the former governor of Virginia and currently serves as a member of the Senate’s armed services and foreign relations committees. He was one of Clinton's earliest supporters.
Just got off the phone with Hillary. I’m honored to be her running mate. Can’t wait to hit the trail tomorrow in Miami!
— Senator Tim Kaine (@timkaine) July 23, 2016
Clinton and Kaine are set to make their first joint appearance as running mates on Saturday at Florida International University in Miami, where half of the student body is Hispanic. Clinton has said she was looking for a running mate who was ready to help her govern and who did not need on-the-job training.
Before making the official announcement, Clinton called the other candidates she was considering to let them know her decision.
Clinton's announcement of her vice-presidential pick comes days before the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.