Understanding the Kaine pick

Hillary Clinton selected Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate over the weekend, and The Washington Post offers an informative article explaining how that decision was made and what it could mean heading into the November election:

Why Hillary Clinton picked Tim Kaine as her running mate

Weighing her VP pick, Chris Cillizza notes that Hillary Clinton isn't someone who takes many risks.

"She's a meticulous thinker who almost never leaps before looking. That caution has not always worked in her favor politically speaking but it is, without question, her defining trait.

"Clinton's selection of Tim Kaine, the Virginia senator, as her vice presidential running mate reflects that caution -- coupled with a confidence that this general election race is hers to lose.

"From the start of the vice presidential selection process, Kaine has always been at or near the top of any list of potential contenders. The reason is simple: He checks lots and lots of the traditional boxes one looks for in a vice president.

"Kaine comes from a swing state. He has executive and legislative experience. (Kaine was governor of Virginia from 2005 to 2009 and mayor of Richmond prior to that.) He has a strong Catholic religious background. (He was a missionary out of college.) He speaks fluent Spanish. He had been vetted favorably by then Senator Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign.

The article includes the observations of several other noted media figures and analysts, and is worth the time it takes to read.