Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Kaine stopped in Austin yesterday and met with local volunteers and supporters to thank them for their work.
While the focus of his visit was mostly to let Texas Democrats know they are important to the national party, Kaine also had to address – and strongly denounce – Donald Trump’s latest comments aimed at Hillary Clinton.
Even though Texas is a safe state for Republicans, Kaine started his visit to Autsin by reassuring Democrats there is still hope for him and Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton here.
“Texas is critically important. We always look at Texas in the Democratic family. First time when I was the Democratic party chair, the meeting we did we brought it to Austin to show ‘Hey we are going to go after Texas,’” Kaine said. “And it’s big, and it’s complicated, and it’s hard, but we are serious about this. We are serious about this.”
Kaine’s been traveling the country while Clinton focuses on important swing states like Florida. Kaine was making fundraising stops here in Texas, as well as thanking locals who are working on the campaign. And even though national polls are showing a strong lead for Clinton right now, Kaine warned volunteers that could change any day.
“I mean this has been a season of surprises. So, we might see some polls we like now, but there is no guarantee that will be the case next week, there’s no guarantee that will be the case after Labor Day,” Kaine said. “We have to assume this thing is tough."
Kaine also responded to remarks from Donald Trump made at a rally in North Carolina. There, he said if Clinton is elected, gun rights supporters could possibly do something about it.
“If she gets to pick her judges, there is nothing you can do, folks,” Trump told a crowd in North Carolina yesterday. “Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is.”
The remark was interpreted by many to be a reference to violence against Clinton. The Trump campaign said he was referring to the voting power of gun rights supporters. Kaine said after his meet-and-greet with volunteers that hearing that comment made his blood run cold.
“No leader should be inciting violence in any way shape or form,” he said. “And it really speaks to a fundamental default in his temperament – in so far as he would want to be president.”
Kaine followed his stop in Austin with a visit to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.