Tim Kaine Reacts To Hillary's VP Pick

On Friday, the whole political world was waiting to finally hear the news: Who would presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton tap to serve as her running mate? If you're politically engaged, then you've probably already heard some of the names that have been rumored ― Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and of course, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine. Clinton informed supporters via a text that her running mate would be Kaine. So, how did the last name on that list feel about the final outcome? How did Tim Kaine react to Hillary Clinton's VP pick?

Well, he loved it, obviously, because she picked him! Despite frustrated rumblings from many on the Democratic left, who'd been stirred by the possibility of a stronger left-wing choice like Warren or Brown, and/or a person of color like Booker or Becerra, Clinton decided to go the route that so many people assumed she would from day one ― Kaine, a center-left Democrat who hails from a hotly contested battleground state. Kaine also has the benefit of previous executive experience as the state's governor, something none of the other hot names on Clinton's list could boast.

So, what did he actually say? Here's the first comment Kaine has given since the big news was announced, via his Twitter account:

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!

He also changed his Twitter bio to include "Democratic candidate for vice president."

It'll be fascinating to see how Kaine fits into the general election, given the surge of last-minute protests and outcry his selection spurred among leftists and progressives on social media. Obviously, there were choices out there with more stalwart track records on progressive issues ― Kaine is personally opposed to abortion and supports some parental notification restrictions, although he says he doesn't want to ban it, and he came around on same-sex marriage in 2013, rather late relative to the rest of the party (this is also true of Clinton herself), and very late by the standards of the liberal Democratic base. His relative centrism, long-standing roots in Virginia, and the fact that he won't overshadow Clinton that way a rockstar pick like Elizabeth Warren might have, however, likely worked in his favor.

And, of course, Clinton has to pick someone she thinks she could possibly spend eight years tied to ― a positive working relationship is crucial. In any case, there's your general election matchup: Trump-Pence vs. Clinton-Kaine.