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Kaine: No One Should Say They're Ready to Be President

June 26, 2016

Sen. Tim Kaine (D., Va.), a top contender to join Hillary Clinton's Democratic presidential ticket, said Sunday that no one should ever say they're truly prepared to be commander-in-chief.

Kaine's constant line in support of Clinton's bid has been that she's the most qualified person for the position, however. He is reportedly on the shortlist to be Clinton's running mate.

"Are you qualified to be commander-in-chief?" Meet The Press host Chuck Todd asked.

"You know what? Nobody should ever say they're ready for that responsibility, because it is so, so huge," Kaine said.

"What does that mean when you hear that question?" Todd asked. "What do you think that means? What should go into being qualified?"

"I don't know," Kaine said. "You know, Abraham Lincoln wouldn't have said yes to that question. Harry Truman wouldn't have said yes to that question. Those are my two favorite presidents. I am doing my best to be a good senator."

The centrist Democrat was a former Virginia governor and could help Clinton win the key battleground state, although he has been criticized for being insufficiently progressive from some on the party's left. At the end of the interview, Todd read out articles describing him as "boring," a description with which the senator agreed.

"Boring is the fastest growing demographic in the country," Kaine quipped.