Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., isn’t encouraging speculation that he’s being vetted as a potential running mate for Hillary Clinton this fall.
“Don’t believe the hype,” Kaine said during a Tuesday interview with Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC. “I’m just doing my work here in the senate and in Virginia. My highest and best use is really in Virginia because I do think this will be a critical state in November and I’m going to do everything I can to help Hillary win.”
“All I’m doing — the only thing I’m doing right now for the Clinton campaign is going out and campaigning and helping them win, especially in Virginia. That’s the only role I have right now at the campaign,” he added.
While the Clinton campaign has yet to officially participate in any vice presidential speculation, many names have been floated as suitable choices for Clinton: Kaine, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro.
Unlike other Democrats floated to be Clinton’s running mate, Kaine is from a state with a Democratic governor who could appoint a Democrat to replace him.
