What they are saying about Hillary Clinton's VP choices

According to media sources, the choice for Hillary Clinton’s running mate could be announced at any time.

Her campaign has hinted at a Friday or Saturday reveal during a campaign swing in Florida, but these things have a way of leaking out before they are officially announced.

The Associated Press reports, "Hillary Clinton's vice presidential search is centering on three main contenders, with an announcement expected as soon as Friday as the Democrat prepares for her party's national convention next week in Philadelphia. Democrats familiar with the search say Clinton's campaign has focused in recent days on Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, a former governor, mayor and one-time Catholic missionary fluent in Spanish; Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, an ex-Iowa governor and longtime Clinton ally; and Labor Secretary Tom Perez, a progressive champion who would be the first Hispanic on a major-party ticket."

Here’s what other media outlets are saying about who is on the shortlist and which way Clinton may be leaning.

At home making her decision

“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.”

She’s met with prospective running mates

NBC

“Hillary Clinton is expected to announce her running mate later this week during a two-day swing through Florida, NBC News has learned. The presumptive Democratic nominee has campaigned or met with most of the candidates in recent weeks and is set to appear with her final choice before the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Philadelphia next week. … Overall, the former secretary of state has said she is looking for someone who can seamlessly step into the job of commander-in-chief if needed. "I know what it's like being president. I've seen it up close, I've worked for one, I've had that experience. So for me there is nothing more important than my rock-solid conviction that the person I choose could literally get up one day and be the president of the United States," Clinton told CBS News on Monday.”

Kaine, Perez, Vilsack toward the top of the list

Politico

“Fast approaching her final decision on a running mate, Hillary Clinton appears to be looking closely at Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and Labor Secretary Tom Perez, say multiple people who are in regular contact with her inner circle. But it’s another member of President Barack Obama’s Cabinet whose stock has been steadily and notably rising in recent days, vaulting him into what close Clinton friends call the “top tier": Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.”

The safe pick

“For Clinton, her list of potential vice presidential picks once included a deep bench of feisty candidates all willing to take up the cause. But recent controversies involving several top contenders may be forcing the presumptive Democratic nominee’s hand in eyeing “safer” alternatives – namely Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and USDA head Tom Vilsack. The hits came at a rapid clip this week for others on the short-list.  One candidate thought to be an early favorite was U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro. But Castro, who met with Clinton in Washington last week, was just cited for violating federal law when he touted Clinton’s candidacy in an April news interview.”

Cory Booker still in the mix

The Washington Post

“Sen. Timothy M. Kaine of Virginia and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack remain two of the leading contenders for Hillary Clinton’s vice-presidential pick, but Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey is also under active consideration for her ticket, according to a Democrat with knowledge of the process.”

What’s with Tom Vilsack?

Mother Jones

“Tom Vilsack is a trendy guy—but only if by "trendy," you mean "normcore." He has spent the past eight years as secretary of the US Department of Agriculture—the country cousin of presidential cabinet positions. He's a solid centrist Democratfrom Iowa, where he served two terms as governor as well as a stint as mayor of a town called Mt. Pleasant (pop. 8,668). He even calls himself a "workhorse, not a show horse." But he has been generating massive buzz as the possible vice presidential pick of presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, recently catapulting to the upper echelons of her Veep short list.”

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