‘Traditional Catholic’ Kaine’s Personal Qualms About Abortion A Contrast To Clinton
Although Hillary Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine says "the right role for government is to let women make their own decisions," he has some history with supporting anti-abortion programs that could make the topic a vulnerable spot for the Democrat in his debates with Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence.
The Associated Press:
Kaine Liberal Appeal Muted By Energy Ties, Abortion Concerns
Hillary Clinton and running mate Tim Kaine are closely aligned on many issues, but Kaine's cautious, left-leaning political profile in a closely contested state is blurred by his ties to energy industry interests and his personal qualms over abortion. ... Clinton and Kaine are avowed champions of women's reproductive rights. But as a self-described "traditional Catholic," Kaine has long said he personally opposes abortion, a stance that drew criticism from women's groups. His personal qualms could cause complications later in the campaign when he debates Republican rival Mike Pence, an anti-abortion crusader. (7/23)
The New York Times:
How Tim Kaine And Hillary Clinton Compare On The Issues
As governor of Virginia, Mr. Kaine supported some restrictions on abortion and said as a “traditional Catholic” that he was personally against abortion but supported abortion rights. As a senator, Mr. Kaine has voted in favor of funding Planned Parenthood and against attempts to restrict access to legal abortions. But he has also sought to reduce the number of abortions through education programs advocating adoption and abstinence. (Shepherd and Rappeport, 7/22)
Meanwhile, Kaine's views do align with Clinton's over improving the health law and expanding Medicaid —
Modern Healthcare:
Clinton's VP Pick Kaine Is A Strong Backer Of Improving And Expanding The ACA
The man selected by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as her vice presidential running mate is a strong ally of Clinton's in her push for improving the Affordable Care Act and expanding Medicaid to more states.Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, whom Clinton named Friday as her running mate, has sponsored several bills to fix gaps and glitches in the ACA and to encourage more states to extend Medicaid to low-income adults. (Meyer, 7/22)
