Now that Donald Trump has officially tapped Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to join his ticket, Hillary Clinton should select Tim Kaine to be her running mate.

That’s according to The POLITICO Caucus — a panel of battleground-state activists, operatives and strategists. Pluralities in both parties picked Kaine, the Virginia senator whom many dubbed the “safe” choice among a list of seven supposed Clinton short-listers as the best choice for the presumptive Democratic nominee.


Given the choices of Kaine and six other reported contenders, 38 percent of Democratic insiders and 42 percent of GOP insiders said Kaine would make the best running mate for Clinton, who reportedly spent Friday at her home in Washington considering her options and meeting with a number of hopefuls, including Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julían Castro and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. But few Democrats thought Castro or Warren — 12 percent, respectively — would be the best choice for Clinton.

GOP insiders, meanwhile, mostly praised Trump’s selection of Pence. A 54-percent majority of Republicans said Pence was a good choice that would help the Trump campaign, while 7 percent said he was a poor choice that would harm the campaign. Thirty-nine percent said the choice of Pence won’t have any impact on Trump’s campaign at all.

Among Democrats who looked forward to Clinton’s pick, those who selected Kaine cited his experience as a governor, senator and chair of the Democratic National Committee. One New Hampshire Democrat — who, like all respondents, completed the survey anonymously — said Kaine “reinforces [Clinton’s] theme of competence running against an unprepared reckless opponent.”

“Hillary comes to this from a position of strength,” added a Florida Democrat. “She doesn't need someone to expand her coalition. This election doesn't need more spice — The Donald is more than enough. So she should stick with steady, proven leadership — which is a big part of her brand.”

Added a Pennsylvania Democrat: “I still think that Clinton should stay safe and go with Kaine. He matches up with Pence in terms of résumé, but has been able to steer a moderate course without getting into the cultural jams of Pence. And the Pence/Kaine exchange on Medicaid expansion and Obamacare will be priceless.”

“Like Trump, she needs someone low key,” added an Iowa Democrat. "In her case, however, it's because she just isn't very exciting or a good campaigner and wouldn't want a VP choice to steal the spotlight. Kaine fills that bill. That he's fluent in Spanish will help with Hispanics.”

The same message was echoed by GOP insiders.

“Hillary needs a safe pick,” said a Colorado Republican. “She needs someone that independents and disgruntled Republicans can support.”

“Kaine is a safe pick for Clinton and stacks up against Pence, essentially negating what each might bring to the ticket,” added a Wisconsin Republican.

Support for other candidates was limited. Like Castro and Warren, 12 percent of Democratic insiders said Clinton should pick Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a former governor of swing-state Iowa.

“Hillary should focus on a young, capable person of color,” said a Florida Democrat. “Respect for all people is important, and diversity matters.”

Insiders who chose Warren said the first-term senator could help Clinton with voters who sided with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries.

“Hillary needs to shore up her image as willing to attack the establishment, and Elizabeth Warren brings energy to the campaign at a time when Hillary really needs it,” said a North Carolina Democrat. “The fact that Hillary is now even with Trump in the [CBS News/New York Times] poll is actually a good wake-up call for Democrats, who will need to fight with all they have to defeat Trump. Elizabeth Warren is a fighter. She's a fighter that ordinary people can relate to.”

Most of the support for Vilsack came from his home state. “Tom Vilsack is a steady leader who has deep experience and a real sense of loyalty to Hillary,” one Iowa Democrat said. “He has an American story of tragedy and triumph. He's also one of the most genuine and caring people in politics today.”

An Iowa Republican said Vilsack would be a good analog for Pence: “Wonky white Midwestern governor meets the same,” the Republican said. “Tom Vilsack has been a loyal soldier for Hillary Clinton since ending his own [presidential] bid nearly 10 years ago. Iowa is the closest of the toss-ups right now, and choosing a beloved native son would be a significant blow to Trump's efforts here.”

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who reportedly met with Clinton Friday at her home, wasn’t on the list of seven potential running mates offered as options for Caucus insiders; the survey was conducted prior to news of Hickenlooper’s meeting being reported. But of the 7 percent of Democratic insiders who chose “other,” none mentioned Hickenlooper.

Republicans, meanwhile, said Trump’s choice of Pence would help the thrice-married New York billionaire bring aboard social conservatives. One Colorado Republican called Pence an “excellent choice” that “helps address many of the concerns and perceived weaknesses of the presumptive nominee.”

“Pence brings a solid track record, collaborative ties to GOP leaders in Congress, and a disciplined, cautious demeanor to the ticket,” the Republican said. “His strong ties with social conservatives and major conservative donors will help reassure both concerned members of the Republican establishment as well as a skittish evangelical base that isn't yet convinced that Trump will be an advocate for the issues important to social conservatives and others on the right.”

“Pence is as restrained, conventional, and palatable as his haircut,” added an Ohio Republican, who called the Indiana governor a “good counterweight to Trump's undisciplined, unpredictable, and odd political coiffure.”

An Ohio Republican called Pence “a slight positive” who would “give some comfort to social conservatives.” And he added that Pence faced a tight reelection campaign back in Indiana — which he officially abandoned just minutes after Trump’s announcement — and Republicans could be better-positioned with a different candidate.

“Truthfully, this gets Pence out of a losing situation, so the [Republican Governors Association] is the biggest beneficiary,” the insider said.

Among those who predicted Pence wouldn’t make an impact was the usual cadre of Republicans who said little could change the culture of the Trump campaign.

“This is the Donald Trump freak show,” one Ohio Republican said. “[Neither] Pence nor anyone else would have mattered.”

“Pence is no-harm, no-foul,” added a Florida Republican. “He won't mean a lot because there's only one chief clown in the Trump circus, and that's Trump.”

While few GOP insiders said Trump erred in choosing Pence, one who did was hoping for more sizzle from the former casino owner and reality-television star.

“Boring,” declared one Florida Republican. “I wanted Newt!”

These are the members of The POLITICO Caucus, not all of whom participated in this special survey:

Colorado: Ryan Call, Laura Carno, Matt Chandler, Will Coyne, Adam Eichberg, Mark Ferrandino, Cole Finegan, Michael Fortney, Andrew Freedman, Ted Harvey, Craig Hughes, Owen Loftus, Pete Maysmith, Frank McNulty, Karen Middleton, Christopher Murray, BJ Nikkel, Josh Penry, Rick Ridder, Alan Salazar, Janice Sinden, Pat Steadman, Pat Waak, Steve Welchert, Taylor West, Roxane White, Rob Witwer

Florida: Fernand Amandi, Scott Arceneaux, JP Austin, Tim Baker, Dennis K. Baxley, Slater Bayliss, Dave Beattie, Wayne Bertsch, Ron Book, Pamela Burch Fort, Jose Calderon, Kevin Cate, Kelly Cohen, Gus Corbella, Brian Crowley, Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder, Justin Day, Judith Diaz, Nelson Diaz, John Dowless, Ryan Duffy, Jessica Ehrlich, Joe Falk, Alia Faraj-Johnson, Mark Ferrulo, Damien Filer, Marty Fiorentino, Rich Heffley, Nick Iarossi, David Johnson, Eric Johnson, Marian Johnson, Eric Jotkoff, Chris Korge, Jackie Lee, Susan MacManus, Beth Matuga, Fred Menachem, Jon Mills, Joe Mobley, Ben Pollara, Andrea Reilly, Steve Schale, April Schiff, Max Steele, Roger Stone, Richard Swann, Kevin Sweeny, Christian Ulvert, Steve Vancore, Ashley Walker, Andrew Weinstein, Andrew Wiggins, Ryan Wiggins, Rick Wilson

Iowa: Tim Albrecht, Brad Anderson, Rob Barron, Jeff Boeyink, Bonnie Campbell, Dave Caris, Sam Clovis, Jerry Crawford, Sara Craig, John Davis, Steve Deace, John Deeth, Derek Eadon, Ed Failor Jr., Karen Fesler, David Fischer, Ben Foecke, Doug Gross, Steve Grubbs, Tim Hagle, Bob Haus, Joe Henry, Drew Ivers, Jill June, Lori Jungling, Jeff Kaufmann, Brian Kennedy, Jake Ketzner, David Kochel, Chris Larimer, Chuck Larson, Jill Latham, Jeff Link, Dave Loebsack, Mark Lucas, Liz Mathis, Jan Michelson, Chad Olsen, David Oman, Matt Paul, Marlys Popma, Troy Price, Christopher Rants, Kim Reem, Craig Robinson, Sam Roecker, David Roederer, Nick Ryan, Tamara Scott, Joni Scotter, Karen Slifka, John Smith, AJ Spiker, Norm Sterzenbach, John Stineman, Matt Strawn, Charlie Szold, Phil Valenziano, Jessica Vanden Berg, Nate Willems, Eric Woolson, Grant Young

Michigan: Jill Alper, Saul Anuzis, Andrea Bitely, Lori Carpentier, Howard Edelson, Jordan Gehrke, Steve Hood, Joe Lehman, Dennis Lennox, Katie Packer, Ronna Romney McDaniel, John Truscott, Stephanie White, John Yob

Nevada: Mac Abrams, Greg Bailor, Barbara Buckley, Yvanna Cancela, Bob Cavazos, Linda Cavazos, Jim DeGraffenreid, Andrew Diss, Peter Ernaut, Ryan Erwin, Chip Evans, Jay Gerstema, Oscar Goodman, Ryan Hamilton, Dan Hart, Pat Hickey, Zach Hudson, Jeremy Hughes, Megan Jones, Lindsey Jydstrup, Adam Khan, Peter Koltak, Roberta Lange, Sam Liberman, Laura Martin, Michael McDonald, Chuck Muth, Erven Nelson, Kristen Orthman, Neal Patel, Nick Phillips, Jon Ralston, Andres Ramires, Emmy Ruiz, Scott Scheid, Mike Slanker, James Smack, Paul Smith, Jack St. Martin, Mari St. Martin, Daniel Stewart, Brendan Summers, Riley Sutton, Robert Uithoven, Michelle White, Ed Williams, Heidi Wixom

New Hampshire: Charlie Arlinghaus, Arnie Arnesen, Patrick Arnold, Rich Ashooh, Dean Barker, Juliana Bergeron, D.J. Bettencourt, Michael Biundo, Ray Buckley, Peter Burling, Jamie Burnett, Debby Butler, Dave Carney, Jackie Cilley, Catherine Corkery, Corriveau, Fergus Cullen, Lou D’Allesandro, James Demers, Mike Dennehy, Sean Downey, Steve Duprey, JoAnn Fenton, Jennifer Frizzell, Martha Fuller Clark, Amanda Grady Sexton, Jack Heath, Gary Hirshberg, Jennifer Horn, Peter Kavanaugh, Joe Keefe, Rich Killion, Harrell Kirstein, Sylvia Larsen, Joel Maiola, Kate Malloy Corriveau, Maureen Manning, Steve Marchand, Tory Mazzola, Jim Merrill, Jayne Millerick, Claira Monier, Greg Moore, Matt Mowers, Terie Norelli, Chris Pappas, Liz Purdy, Tom Rath, Colin Reed, Jim Rubens, Andy Sanborn, Dante Scala, William Shaheen, Stefany Shaheen, Carol Shea-Porter, Terry Shumaker, Andy Smith, Craig Stevens, Kathy Sullivan, Chris Sununu, James Sununu, Jay Surdukowski, Donna Sytek, Kari Thurman, Colin Van Ostern, Deb Vanderbeek, Mike Vlacich, Ryan Williams

North Carolina: Don Davis, Francis X. De Luca, Anita Earls, Jonathan Felts, Tami L. Fitzgerald, Dylan Frick, Taylor Griffin, Robin Hayes, Morgan Jackson, Patsy Keever, Theresa Kostrzewa, Michael Luethy, Ray Martin, Thomas Mills, Melissa L. Reed, Chris Sgro, Paul Shumaker, Dee Stewart, Brad Thompson, Bruce Thompson, Charlie Wallin, Doug Wilson

Ohio: Jerry Austin, Greg Beswick, Matt Borges, Erica Bruton, Tim Burke, Janet Carson, Jai Chabria, Martha Clark, Bob Clegg, Damareo Cooper, Jo Ann Davidson, Michael Dawson, Bill DeMora, Cindy Demse, Kathy Dicristofaro, Katie Eagan, Michael Gonidakis, Wes Goodman, Joe Hallett, Ian James, Melissa Klide Hedden, David Leland, Nick Martin, Rhine McLin, David Pepper, Molly Shack, Mark R. Weaver

Pennsylvania: Chris Borick, Larry Ceisler, Valentino DiGiorgio, Jason Ercole, Dan Fee, Charlie Gerow, Marcel Groen, Leslie Gromis Baker, Mark Harris, Nan McLaughlin, Aubrey Montgomery, Christopher Nicholas, Nachama Soloveichik, David Sosar, Todd Stephens, Doc Sweitzer, David Thornburgh, Ray Zaborney

Virginia: Ray Allen, Sandra Brandt, Marc K. Broklawski, Patsy Brown, Janet Carver, John Cosgrove, Brian Coy, Doris Crouse-Mays, Tom Davis, Julie Dime, Abbi Easter, Mike Farris, John Findlay, Joe Fitzgerald, Sean Harrison, Margo Horner, Robert Hurt, Gaylene Kanoyton, Chris LaCivita, Sue Langley, Frank Leone, Robert G. Marshall, Tucker Martin, Ed Matricardi, Susan J. Rowland, Peter Snyder, Susan Swecker, Jo Thoburn

Wisconsin: Meg Andrietsch, Mary Arnold, Kevin Barthel, Mike Basford, Rebecca Bonesteel, Barry Burden, Terri Burl, Jim Camery, Patrick Guarasci, Robert Hansen, Gary Hawley, Marian Krumberger, Emily Nehring, Jason Rae, Brandon Scholz, John Zapfel

Kristen Hayford contributed to this report.

