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Clinton Picks Virginia Senator Tim Kaine As Running Mate

CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. -- Taking to Twitter, Democratic presumptive presidential nominee Hillary Clinton announced that Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia is her vice-presidential running mate.

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) has been named as Hillary Clinton's running mate.

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) has been named as Hillary Clinton's running mate.

Photo Credit: U.S. Senate
Hillary Clinton, left, and her choice for running mate, Tim Kaine, at a rally in Virginia last week.

Hillary Clinton, left, and her choice for running mate, Tim Kaine, at a rally in Virginia last week.

Photo Credit: @HillaryClinton
Residents gather in Chappaqua to celebrate Hillary Clinton's naming of Tim Kaine as her vice-presidential running mate. Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, lives in Chappaqua.

Residents gather in Chappaqua to celebrate Hillary Clinton's naming of Tim Kaine as her vice-presidential running mate. Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, lives in Chappaqua.

Photo Credit: Dawn Greenberg

"I'm thrilled to announce my running mate, @TimKaine, a man who's devoted his life to fighting for others," Clinton, a former secretary of state who has been a Chappaqua resident since 1999, wrote early Friday night.

Kaine, 58, has been Virginia's junior-serving senator since 2013. He previously served as governor of Virginia, lieutenant governor of Virginia and as chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Clinton and Kaine are scheduled to appear together at noon Saturday at a rally at Florida International University in Miami.

In a followup tweet, Clinton called Kaine "a relentless optimist who believes no problem is unsolvable if you put in the work to solve it."

Kaine, who is fluent in Spanish (after having worked as a missionary in the Honduras), was a finalist for the VP running mate slot in 2008 when Barack Obama chose Joe Biden.

He has the most national security experience of any of the finalists Clinton considered, and is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Clinton reportedly called Kaine with her decision around 7:40 p.m. Friday.

"I’m honored to be her running mate. Can’t wait to hit the trail tomorrow in Miami!" Kaine tweeted.

The announcement of Kaine's selection was greeted by several of Clinton's supporters in Chappaqua. Chappaqua For Hillary, a group formed by local Clinton backers, tweeted a photo of residents gathering at the Chappaqua Station restaurant to celebrate the news.

Clinton and Kaine will be officially nominated for their spots on the ticket at the Democratic National Convention, which will meet from July 25 to 28 in Philadelphia. 

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