Tim Kaine would be steady VP pick for Hillary Clinton

The avid outdoorsman votes early, then goes hiking in the woods with friends and family for a few hours of calm away from the nervous last-minute energy of political campaigns.

That grounded approach has helped explain Kaine's appeal in swing-state Virginia, where he served as governor from 2006 to 2010 and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012.

[...] it's why he's considered a likely choice to be Hillary Clinton's running mate.

A whip-smart Harvard Law School graduate, Kaine speaks with ease while campaigning, rarely needing a prepared text.

After serving as a Richmond city councilmember and part-time mayor, Kaine became the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor when the presumed candidate dropped out following a cancer diagnosis.

In one of the most divisive elections in recent history, Kaine's political style would also stand in stark contrast to presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's often incendiary rhetoric and aggressive, personal attacks.

[...] beneath the nice-guy image, friends said Kaine isn't afraid of throwing elbows while campaigning and has a strong competitive streak.