In his first major introduction to Democratic Party faithfuls as Hillary Clinton’s running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine appealed to Republicans disaffected by Donald Trump to come home to the real “party of Lincoln.”
Kaine pointed to his father-in-law, the former Virginia GOP Gov. Linwood Holton Jr., as a Republican who’s going vote for “an awful lot of Democrats” over his own party’s nomination of Trump.
“He is voting for Democrats because any party that would nominate Donald Trump for President has moved too far away from his party of Lincoln,” Kaine said.
He broadened the call to other wandering Republican voters: “If any of you are looking for the party of Lincoln, we’ve got a home for you here in the Democratic Party.”
The senator, a fluent Spanish speaker since his days working as a missionary in Honduras, spoke the language at multiple points in the speech. He also launched into a lengthy impression of Trump.
Kaine rolled with the punches when his speech was repeatedly disrupted by protesters from members of multiple state’s delegations. He largely managed to push through the speech while ignoring those delegates, who held up anti-Trans Pacific Partnership signs.
At another point, Kaine got an assist from a Spanish-speaking supporter on the floor, who yelled “si se puede,” which translates to “yes we can.” Kaine echoed the line, and the crowd joined in to join the chant.
He ended on a high note linking Clinton to other great American leaders throughout history.
“Thomas disclaimed all men were equal and Abigail remembered the women. Woodrow brokered the peace and Eleanor broke down the barrier,” Kaine said. “Bill built a bridge into the 21st century and Barack gave us hope, and now Hillary is ready, she’s ready to fight, she’s ready to win.”
