Citizen Kaine

I know, not clever and too lazy of a headline, but I couldn't resist referencing my favorite movie.

Politico reports that Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is "very, very high" on the short list for Obama's V-P.

As Senator Barack Obama turns to the choice of his running mate, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine has emerged as one of the campaign’s potential finalists, sources familiar with conversations in Richmond and in Chicago said.

Make of that what you will.

One obvious electoral benefit is that he's enormously popular in Virginia, a swing state.

Health care and education are his big issues. He tends to be a bit more culturally conservative than most Dems.

But bear in mind that Obama's campaign said to ignore all speculation and that leaks would not occur. The campaign said no information would be forthcoming until a choice is made.

So who knows?

Democratic Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine talks with reporters during a break at the National Governors' Association centennial meeting, Saturday, July, 12, 2008, in Philadelphia.