CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript Interview with Tim Kaine
Interview
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Let's discuss with 2016 Democratic vice presidential candidate, Senator Tim Kaine.
Senator, thanks so much for joining us. You know a thing or two about giving a speech, accepting the
nomination for vice president of the United States. I wonder what kind of advice you would have for Senator Harris as she gets read to make history tonight.
SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA): Well, you know, Wolf, you were talking about it earlier. She is going to make history. That was not the case with my candidacy. I wasn't breaking a glass ceiling. But Kamala Harris is.
And this is the centennial of women getting the right to vote. And we still haven't had a women president or vice president. I did everything I could to change that in 2016. But maybe the destiny was that we would crack that ceiling in 2020.
So, I think the key is she's got to introduce herself to the American public and what they're going to see is an amazing public service career, but also an amazing personal story, African-American woman, Indian-American woman, child of immigrants who understands the dreams of immigrants and a fierce senator who will speak truth to power and maybe more importantly, demand truth of power. I think that's what they're going to see tonight when they hear Kamala speak.
BLITZER: You ran in 2016 for vice president. Things are obviously much different now. What do you wish you knew then about how to effectively run against President Trump?
KAINE: Well, look, the biggest joy of 2016 was also the biggest pain in 2016. The biggest joy was doing everything I could to help the first woman be president, just as I had played a role early in helping the first African-American be president, working with Barack Obama in 2008. That was the biggest joy.
The biggest pain was seeing the tremendous misogyny and double standards applied against women candidates. And then when you have a woman of color, it gets even more intense. You have a president saying she's not a U.S. citizen or he wonders whether she is and calling her a nasty woman or an angry woman.
So, look, she has to face off against deep misogyny or subtle double standards that have held women back, and she also has to face-off against the president who's not afraid to use racist lies to trash her. She's a tough person, though. She knows what she's getting into. She's seen this guy operate.
Unlike many, Kamala never had any doubt about who this president was. Some thought when he got elected, he would show a different side. I knew he wouldn't and Kamala came in that first day in 2017. She's had no illusions about him.
I think she'll be a very, very effective counterpoint both in promoting Joe Biden as a man of character and compassion and decency and confidence, but also in terms of just making a great counterpoint to the anti-immigrant and racist tropes that he thrives (ph) in.
BLITZER: And I know she's going to be debating Mike Pence, the vice president of the United States. You had that opportunity. Next time you come back, I'm going to get some tips from you, you'll tell our viewer what kind of tips you're going to give Senator Harris on how to debate Mike Pence, the vice president of United States.
[18:55:06]
KAINE: Wolf --
BLITZER: Senator Kaine, thanks so much for joining us.
KAINE: Wolf -- I may give her those tips privately, but I'm glad to talk to you again.
BLITZER: If you give it to her privately, that -- we'll try to squeeze it out of you. Thanks so much as usual for joining us.
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