McCaskill: Progressives should give Kaine a chance

Here’s how Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, reacted to Hillary Clinton’s selection of Tim Kaine as her running mate:

“It’s just a terrific selection. We now have a ticket that signals that they are the grownups.

“I challenge you to find a member of the United States Senate whose first reaction to Tim Kaine is anythng other than he’s a really nice guy or ‘I really like him.’

“In many ways it’s like he doesn’t belong there. He’s so kind and thoughtful and cheerful even when things are stressed, Tim has a very even keel about him. His temperament is unusual for someone who is a member of United States Senate who has this resume that he has.

“You couldn’t find someone who is more humble than Tim Kaine. He’s incredibly smart. A hard worker. You can tell he’s from the Midwest. He doesn’t phone it in. He’s a policy wonk. I think he’s such a terrific choice.

“He will be a real antidote to all of that fear and anger and darkness on the other ticket.”

Is he too conservative?

“This is someone who went on a mission, came close to being a Jesuit priest. He’s someone who has lived a life that was focused on social justice. He really believes it is about the least among us and about doing for others, and lifting up others.

“When people really learn about his background, if progessives give him a chance and look at how he’s lived his life, they’ll be reassured that he’s coming from the same value system they’re coming from.”

This story was originally published July 25, 2016 at 10:22 AM with the headline "McCaskill: Progressives should give Kaine a chance."