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"I really love my job. I really do," the Virginia Democrat said. Kaine: I'll be a senator, not vice president on Jan. 20

In his sharpest rejection yet of chatter that he is near the top of Hillary Clinton's list of potential running mates, Sen. Tim Kaine said Friday that he hoped to be seated on the dais where Clinton is inaugurated next January. But as a senator, not as her second in command.

"You know, I really love my job. I really do," the Virginia Democrat said toward the end of a segment on MSNBC's "Morning Joe. "And I have a great feeling that I'm going to be on that podium with Hillary Clinton when she's taking the oath of office, but I'm going to be sitting with the other senators."

Clinton is "going to need a great Senate to work with," remarking that his positions on the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, as well as being from Virginia, "is a great place and I'm not looking for another post." Appearing on the same show on April 13, Kaine echoed much of the same, commenting, "I can tell you, I love my job and I’m not looking for another one."

Kaine's colleague Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) ribbed him on the speculation during a hearing on Thursday, calling him "Vice President Kaine."

“I’m going to be sworn in again in the Senate in January, so come on down and join me," the senator said after Joe Scarborough asked if the panelists would be invited to his vice-presidential reception.

Scarborough followed up by asking, "Who was the last vice president from Virginia?"

Kaine thought for a moment before hesitantly (but correctly) responding: "John Tyler?"