"If asked to serve as Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s running mate, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Friday that he would have a “hard time” saying no.

“I don’t know what would happen if it came to me,” Kaine said in an interview with The Daily Progress.

“Part of me would say, it’s a historic time and it’s a huge election and there’s some fundamental forks in the road that we’re going to be taking. I signed on to help Barack win. If he wants me to help him in that way, it’d be hard to say no.”

Kaine, a Richmond Democrat and early supporter of Obama’s presidential bid, has been mentioned as a vice presidential candidate or possible Cabinet member in an Obama administration.

Kaine said he is “flattered” when his name is mentioned, but that he has not talked with anyone in the Obama campaign about joining the ticket.

Kaine already serves as part of Obama’s economic policy team.

It would be more natural for Obama to pick a running mate who is a vocal supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton to promote party unity. Alternatively, Kaine said, Obama might want to find someone with military experience to counter Republican John McCain’s popularity among the armed services.

“I think he has a couple of directions that would be more natural for him to go in,” Kaine said. “But it is flattering to be mentioned. I won’t lie to you about that.”

One such direction, Kaine said, would be for Obama to ask Clinton herself to be his vice presidential candidate.

“I’m one of the ones in the camp saying that I think he should consider her,” Kaine said.

The unusually long and bruising primary campaign has not damaged Obama’s chances against McCain, Kaine said. The primary gave Obama a chance to lay the groundwork of establishing field teams across the country, he said. Plus, Obama has already survived a lengthy battle against a tough competitor.

“Obama has been tested again and again,” Kaine said. “He’s had some tough, tough times in the campaign. He’s had to beat the most formidable political organization since the Kennedys. And he has.”

Kaine predicted that Clinton will concede after Tuesday’s primaries in South Dakota and Montana.

If she does not drop out of the race, Kaine said, the skirmish between the two Democrats would be prolonged and might damage the nominee’s chance in November.

“I really hope that this comes to a close next week,” he said. “I think it will.”" (Brian McNeill, The Daily Progress, May 31, 2008)