Zacheaus Somorin with agency reports
Hillary Clinton is spending two days at
home in New York, finalizing her decision for a running mate, before
formally introducing her Democratic ticket during a weekend campaign
swing in Florida, according to several Democrats familiar with the
search.
Clinton is planning to announce her
decision in a message to supporters, a campaign official told CNN, and
make her first appearance with her vice presidential candidate in Tampa
on Friday or Miami on Saturday.
Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack have emerged as leading contenders
after a rigorous vetting process, Democrats close to the selection
believe, but they are not the only two prospects still in contention.
“The conventional wisdom in this case seems likely to be right,” one
Democrat close to Clinton told CNN, believing Kaine has the upper hand
but cautioning that Clinton could still deliver a surprise.
Clinton has not made her final decision,
an aide said, or if she has, she has not disclosed it. Even the small
universe of advisers working on the selection process, who are making
plans to help on the announcement, are not certain who she will choose.
She has consulted many people for thoughts and advice, including
President Barack Obama, who is close to Kaine and Vilsack, who serves in
his Cabinet.
The deliberations, led by campaign
chairman John Podesta, have been extraordinarily private — a striking
contrast to those of Donald Trump. But Democrats say former President
Bill Clinton also has been involved in discussions and is impressed by
Kaine, who has the support of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a longtime
Clinton ally.
“He gets a say, but doesn’t have a vote
on this,” one Clinton friend said of the former president. Several
Democratic senators, donors and people close to the campaign who have
spoken to Clinton say she is aware of the criticism that neither Kaine
nor Vilsack is seen as a particularly flashy or exciting candidate. She
also has considered Labor Secretary Tom Perez, Sens. Elizabeth Warren,
Cory Booker and Sherrod Brown, in addition to others.
“I love that about him,” Clinton told
CBS’ Charlie Rose Monday night, when asked about Kaine being too boring,
something the Virginia senator has joked about. “He was a world-class
mayor, governor and senator and is one of the most highly respected
senators I know.” Clinton praised several candidates, saying she has the
“blessing of having some excellent choices.”
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who
Clinton also met with on Friday, is still in discussion as well, but
would be a “stunning surprise,” in the words of one Democrat close to
the process. The location of Florida leads many to believe it would be
an ideal place to unveil Kaine, who speaks fluent Spanish.
Clinton will visit Orlando on Friday,
scheduled to meet with victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting, and
travel to Tampa for a campaign rally later that day at the Florida State
Fairgrounds. She will hold a rally on Saturday at Florida International
University in Miami.
Clinton aides, who were far from open
about the vice presidential process, have grown even more tight about
information after watching how Trump’s vice presidential roll out played
out. Laughing at times from their Brooklyn headquarters, Clinton’s top
aides pledged to avoid leaks and embarrassing stories that plagued
Trump’s announcement of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.
What Pence did provide the Clinton
campaign is more freedom to pick someone who doesn’t solidify a
demographic base. Should Trump have picked a woman or a black or Latino
vice presidential candidate, Clinton aides thought they would have to
match Trump’s pick to respond.
But with Trump picking Pence, a
well-liked establishment figure, aides feel they have more leeway to
pick a more run-of-the-mill candidate.
Clinton has demanded a secretive
selection process, even as she has campaigned alongside Kaine, Warren
and other contenders in plain sight. “Kaine would be best, but you know
the Clintons,” one top Democrat said. “They may do something more
calculating.”
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