Sen. Kaine to Campaign for Hillary Clinton in Iowa

PHOTOS: Former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, a Democratic candidate in the 2016 presidential race and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia; official photos

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U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia will be campaigning for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton Friday and Saturday in Iowa, according to the Clinton campaign.

Kaine will join Hillary for Iowa supporters and volunteers at events in Davenport, Mount Vernon, Grinnell, Mason City, and Ames to discuss what’s at stake in the election and “why Hillary Clinton is the fighter Democrats need to take on Republicans and deliver real results for Iowa families,” according to the campaign.

Clinton faces stiff competition in the race from U.S. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley is also in the race, but polls show he trails far behind Clinton and Sanders.

Kaine is part of the Hillary for Virginia Leadership Council.

Iowa is a necessary crucial win for Clinton, according to NBC News: “If she wins Iowa, Clinton will be set up to separate herself from Bernie Sanders in South Carolina and the March 1 primaries -- after which her campaign can start to focus on the general election. But if she loses Iowa, then, yes, a highly competitive Democratic race will extend into April and May.”

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has touted both Kaine and U.S. Sen Mark Warner of Virginia, both former governors, as choices for the VP slot for Clinton. Kaine told reporters that he enjoys his job in the U.S. Senate.

“I actually love being in the United States Senate,” Mr. Kaine said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe The Washington Times reported in November.” “I think it’s fashionable now for senators to say that they hate being here, but I’m working on issues I care about every day, I’ve got great committees, and I got a big task ahead of me … to try to convince Congress that 15 months into a war we should actually, shockingly, have a vote and put our imprimatur on it.”

The Democratic and Republican Caucus is scheduled for Feb. 1 in Iowa.