So far, most of the names backing Ready for Hillary are those that only a political insider would know, former aides and the like. But the PAC is earning an endorsement Saturday with some name recognition: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA).
Kaine is the second sitting U.S. senator to formally endorse the group and a potential Hillary 2016 campaign. The first was Sen. Claire McCaskill, who got onboard early with an endorsement last June.
Kaine plans to make the announcement Saturday morning at the South Carolina Women’s Democratic Council.
“I’m doing my bit now to encourage Hillary Clinton to run. I’m encouraging my constituents in Virginia and also encourage all of you to do the same thing by joining the Ready for Hillary movement that already has two million supporters,” Kaine said, according to prepared remarks provided to TPM.
“Secretary Hillary Clinton is the best person to be our 45th President for many reasons,” he said. “She is a classic American optimist with the background and experiences necessary to lead this country in a very complicated world.”
Kaine and the Clintons have been allies for a while. President Bill Clinton raised money for Kaine during his 2005 Virginia gubernatorial bid.
He was also one of President Barack Obama’s early backers in Obama’s 2008 primary against Hillary.
