VP Candidate Tim Kaine Lays Out Vision, Tries To Tear Down Trump

In his seventh campaign stop to Pennsylvania this cycle, vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine visited the Newtown campus of Bucks County Community College to lay out Hillary Clinton’s plan for America.

In a speech that went about an hour, Kaine, a Democratic senator from Virginia, laid out a number of policy goals that he and Clinton have in store under the condition they win the election against Republicans Donald Trump and Mike Pence.

Kaine took time to lay out Clinton’s plan to boost the economy and make college more affordable. He told the crowd of about 200 people that investing in job training efforts and following the trade unions’ idea of apprenticeship would help grow the economy. The veteran politician promised an “economic package right out of the gate.”

“You shouldn’t work full-time in this country and live below the poverty line,” Kaine told the crowd, advocating for raising the minimum wage.

The senator and former Virginia governor received applause when he spoke of preserving Social Security.

Kaine focused on Trump for a portion of his speech and raised concerns over the way the Republican candidate speaks of ethnic groups and the election process. He told the friendly crowd Trump must have run out of groups to insult before be decided to “insult the central pillars of our American democracy.”

“Maybe it’s time for a woman president,” Kaine said. “It’s been 240 years since we said it was about equality.”

“She has got the stamina, the energy and the courage to do this job,” Kaine said of his running mate.

A chunk of Kaine’s speech was not spent on policy but building up Clinton and tearing down Trump.

“He’s not going to take responsibility for a loss,” Kaine said in reference of Trump’s comments about not accepting the results of the election.

With less than three weeks until the general election, Kaine’s visit to Newtown and a later stop in the Lehigh Valley shows Pennsylvania’s importance in the final days of the campaign. In recent weeks, Vice President Joe Biden, Pence, Trump and Bill Clinton have all made visits to Bucks County. Pence is scheduled to visit Bensalem on Friday. 

“You’re the Keystone State, and you’re key to this win,” Kaine told supporters.

Kaine spent about five minutes shaking hands and taking selfies with supporters after his speech ended.

“I thought it was a great speech,” said Mel Berman of Bensalem. “Kaine did what he needed to do in that he presented the broad plans for the campaign and potential administration.”

“He was amazing. He is a very genuine and true person,” said Bette Sovinee from Yardley. “It’s nice to have decency on the campaign.”

Bucks County Community College students made up a portion of the audience but not the majority.

“I thought it was great. He went point to point and stayed on top of the message,” said Bucks County Community College freshman Mason Woolley, a rest of Warrington.

Before Kaine arrived in Newtown Township, a number of high-profile Democrats took to the stage to talk each other and Clinton up.

A common theme of the speeches leading up to Kaine’s own focused on the capability and need in the Democratic party for young minds to get involved and become vocal.

“We are the leaders, we are the change makers, we are the history writers, and we are stronger together,” said John Cordisco, a Bristol native who is the chairman of the Bucks County Democratic Party.

“Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine want to make America the land of opportunity for all kids, not just the righteous one percent,” said Middletown Supervisor Amy Strouse, who held her 10 month old baby in her arms.

Senator Bob Casey and Maryland Senator Ben Cardin spoke immediately before Kaine, and did a number to rile up the crowd in anticipation of the vice presidential candidate’s remarks.

“I have no doubt that this county will deliver for Hillary Clinton on election day,” Casey said triumphantly to applause.

NewtownPANow.com Publisher/Editor Tom Sofield contributed to this report.