Before he extolled Hillary Clinton’s virtues and qualifications, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) ripped into Donald Trump. He presented the audience–gathered in the gymnasium of Northern Virginia Community College for a rally–with a three-part quiz: “Do you want a ‘you’re fired’ president, or a ‘you’re hired’ president?”; “Do you want a trash talking president, or a bridge building president?”; “Do you want a ‘me first’ president or a ‘kids and families first’ president?”

If the couple hundred strong audience’s reaction was any indication, the latter–clearly Clinton–was the unanimous choice. Thursday’s rally was an audition of sorts for Kaine, a presumed favorite as Clinton’s running mate. And perhaps as a response to those who fear he is too bland, too safe, too vanilla for the job, Kaine grew red in the face while animating his reservations about Trump and his reverence for Clinton.

“‘Ready for Hillary’ in Español is ‘estamos listos para Hillary,'” said Kaine, a fluent Spanish speaker who has spent time in Honduras as a minister. “The word ‘ready’ in Spanish is a little bit different than the word ‘ready’ in English…[In Honduras] the best compliment you could receive is to say that you are ‘listo’ because it means you’re well prepared, ready to get on the battlefield. You’re ready to fight.” At this, the crowd erupted in chants of “Hillary, Hillary.”

When it was Clinton’s turn to speak, Trump took a backseat to policy points (she still managed to land a few jabs: “this would be a good reality show, it’s just so serious”). The former secretary of state and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee evoked the popular play “Hamilton”–which, she said, she has seen three time–and the historical context it explores. America’s founding fathers “did not all agree,” she said. “They didn’t even all like each other. But here’s what they did–they worked together, and they set the most outrageous, unbelievable goal.” Their achievement, she said, was transforming disparate colonies “into a nation that could stand with the rest of the world.”

Thousands wait in over ninety degree heat. Most were turned away.

And with that, Clinton presented America’s choice as the most consequential of her lifetime, perhaps of the country’s lifetime: “We are asked whether we want to go forward into our future with confidence, optimism and hope, or whether we give in to bigotry and bluster and bullying.” She added: “Coal country, Indian country, inner city neighborhoods. I want us all to rise together.” But after the rally, on a small lawn outside the gymnasium, a scene emblematic of America’s current political gridlock unfolded.

“As illustrated recently by what happened over the email scandal, [the Clintons] have not been honest or law abiding citizens,” Laurie Kirby, who with her husband Ron braved over ninety degree heat and a staggering sun, told Law Street. The Kirbys stood with a giant American flag and signs opposing Clinton as “unlawful” and “untrustworthy.” As the soft-spoken couple shakily expressed their support for Trump (“I don’t necessarily agree with every statement that comes out of his mouth,” said Laurie), Clinton supporters streamed past, shaking their heads, shouting “stronger together!” and booing the couple.

A small circle began to form: the Kirbys conversed with a stocky, boisterous man in sunglasses, M.T. Two young women joined in. Both were turned away from the rally, they told Law Street, because the gym had reached capacity. “Our reservation apparently wasn’t good enough,” said A.D. (who declined to provide her full name), a first-generation Somalian, and a rising sophomore at Northern Virginia Community College. A.D. and her friend I.K. (who also requested only her initials be used) came as “moderates,” open to hear what Clinton had to say.

As they discussed the “false promises” of Bernie Sanders and the “elitism” of Clinton, a woman–decked in Clinton gear and clutching a “stronger together” sign–shouted at the Kirbys: “[Hillary] is not a liar” and “not crooked.” “I’m a Hillary supporter all the way, thank you,” she said, joining the circle chat. While the debate over Clinton’s character raged on, M.T. laughed. “It’s a very great conversation, it’s great dialogue,” he said. “Only in America!” He grew serious and shook his head as the tone around him grew testy, and personal attacks began to fly. “Just because you have different political views doesn’t mean people have to shame each other,” he said.

Alec Siegel

Alec Siegel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. When he’s not working at Law Street he’s either cooking a mediocre tofu dish or enjoying a run in the woods. His passions include: gooey chocolate chips, black coffee, mountains, the Animal Kingdom in general, and John Lennon. Baklava is his achilles heel. Contact Alec at ASiegel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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In what could be a foreshadowing of the Democratic ticket come November, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts appeared onstage with Hillary Clinton at a rally Monday morning–the first official campaign event of the 2016 race–where she extolled Clinton’s virtues, slammed Donald Trump, and inspired liberal passions over the potential for a historic, all-female Democratic ticket. “I’m ready. Are you ready for this?” Warren asked the cheering crowd of 2,600 at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Standing behind a lectern featuring Clinton’s “Stronger Together” slogan, Warren ticked off Clinton’s achievements as a “fighter”–for children, for women, for families, for health care, for human rights, and “for those who need her most.” The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee stood to the side, smiling and clapping. The two seemed a natural fit, like they’d been at each other’s side for years. The chemistry leaves Democrats, especially the party’s liberal wing, wondering: Might Clinton choose Warren as her running-mate this fall?

According to a recent Bloomberg Politics poll–of the vice presidential candidates floated around so far by the Clinton camp–the Democratic electorate would like to see Warren hold that mantle by a wide margin. 35 percent of those surveyed chose Warren as the preferred vice president to Clinton, with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) in second with 17 percent, and Housing Secretary Julian Castro in third with 12 percent. Of course, the VP seat is not filled based on the desires of voters, and there is no guarantee Warren would accept a VP invitation if one is extended her way. Steps are being taken, however, as she is currently being vetted by Clinton campaign lawyers, and is expected to be subject to a closed-door interview with Clinton in the near future. And according to aides who spoke to The New York Times Monday on condition of anonymity, Clinton will select her VP with the fall Senate elections on her mind.

Irrespective of her future as the Democratic Party’s potential second in command, Warren spent nearly 20 minutes on Monday playing two roles that would certainly come in handy for a Clinton running-mate: a champion of Clinton and a trasher of Trump (“You want to see goofy? Look at him in that hat,” she said). Warren spent the first half of her speech running through personal anecdotes about her siblings and parents, highlighting her middle-class upbringing and working-class values. And of course, she painted Clinton, a “granddaughter of a factory worker whose going to make it all the way to the White House,” with the same brush, while tackling the Trump issue with vigor and venom.

“She knows what it takes to beat a thin-skinned bully who is driven by greed and hate,” Warren said of Clinton, eliciting boos from the crowd at the mere mention of “Donald Trump.” “She knows you beat a bully not by tucking tail and running, but by standing your ground and fighting back.” Calling Clinton a survivor of 25 years of “right wing attacks,” the Massachusetts senator–who will be up for re-election in the fall–offered full support: “most of all she has a good heart, and that’s what America needs.”

Just before Clinton took the stage to reciprocate Warren’s supportive words, the crowd erupted in chants of “Hillary! Hillary!” Warren joined them for a brief moment. Soon, perhaps weeks from now, we will know if Warren will continue rallying the troops, administering jolts of support at rally events, or play an even larger role in November.

Alec Siegel

Alec Siegel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. When he’s not working at Law Street he’s either cooking a mediocre tofu dish or enjoying a run in the woods. His passions include: gooey chocolate chips, black coffee, mountains, the Animal Kingdom in general, and John Lennon. Baklava is his achilles heel. Contact Alec at ASiegel@LawStreetMedia.com.

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