The day after the gavel fell on the close of the Republican National Convention, Hillary Clinton looked to reclaim the public's attention.
The presumptive Democratic nominee on Friday announced Virginia U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine is her choice as vice president.
The announcement came as Clinton campaigned in Florida ahead of Monday's start of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Kaine, elected in 2012, is a former Virginia governor and lieutenant governor. Fluent in Spanish, Kaine serves on the Armed Services and Budget committees in the Senate.
Picking Kaine would presumably help Clinton firm up Virginia in November. The state narrowly went for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. He is generally considered a safe, moderate, pick for Clinton, and is a seasoned politician with few negatives.
But, Kaine will have to prove he can go on the offensive in what is expected to be a bruising general election campaign.
Other candidates for the nomination reportedly included Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Labor Secretary Thomas Perez and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.
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