#48 Governor Tim Kaine has made the cut

Those of you following the last five months of blogposts here know that I'm a Jim Webb fan. Webb is the current Democratic senator from Virginia, what could be a battleground state if Webb were to be chosen for the VP slot on Barack Obama's ticket. However, Webb, like several other Democrats I've liked for the VP slot (Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio, for example), has indicated he isn't interested in running for VP.

Tim Kaine, current governor of Virginia, has apparently made it to the most recent "List of Five" for Obama. Kaine is, as I've pointed out, not as well known nationally as is Webb, though that deficiency can be addressed with the media blitz that will accompany whoever is nominated.

Kaine is also missing some of Webb's other credentials. Kaine is 50 years old, barely older than Obama, whereas Webb is a more seasoned 62 years old. Webb graduated from Annapolis; Kaine graduated from the University of Missouri in 1979. Webb served as a Marine in Viet Nam (and perhaps could counteract McCain's experience there); Kaine was too young to serve there.

But Kaine has certifiable "governing" experience as Mayor of Richmond, as Lt Governor of Virginia, and now (since 2006) as governor. He could bring some administrative skills to an Obama presidency. However, because of his own previously held positions, Webb would seem to have more knowledge of international and defense issues. On the other hand (and I'm dangerously close in this paragraph to having three hands), Kaine apparently has nothing in his background akin to Webb's long-ago comment about women in military academies.

Whoever is nominated, we can assume the Democrats will mount a furious campaign to convince the public that he (and, yes, I'm still saying the Democrats will need to nominate a white male to be VP) is most qualified for the position. The Republicans, of course, will mount a counter campaign.

On the Republican side, right now at least John McCain is doing exactly what he should be doing. No, I don't mean his flubbs and his fluff and his funky comparison of Barack with Britney and Paris. I mean that John McCain should wisely NOT announce his VP candidate until after the Democrats announce theirs. The chronology of the conventions the last week of August (the Democratic convention in Colorado) and the first week of September (the Republican convention in Minnesota) plays beautifully into McCain's strategy...if there actually is a strategy.

There is no reason for McCain to announce anything until after the Democratic convention. In fact, there's no reason for him even to make any decision, just to vet the possible candidates, and hold off actually deciding until he sees who might best counter the Democratic choice.

I'd love to see a race between Obama-Webb (or, I suppose, Kaine) and McCain-Pawlenty. That race could possibly move the Red Virginia to Blue, and the Blue Minnesota to Red, and just throw the last eight years out the window. Hmmm. Another reason to get rid of these last eight years....

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