Hillary Clinton is getting a great deal of advice on whom she should select to be her running mate for her presidential run. Pundits and party enthusiasts suggest that Secretary Clinton should pick a progressive firebrand like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders or Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to unite the party. Either would be an exciting choice, but neither would be wise. The better pick is Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia.

It's true that Kaine does not electrify the Democratic base. His career demonstrates political choices that are more steadfast than stimulating. Kaine hasn't even gathered 50,000 followers on Twitter. Nor has he exchanged verbal taunts with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump through social media platforms. As politicians go, former Gov. Kaine is a steady Democrat whose best case future probably is to be more liked than loved.

However, there is far more to being a good running mate than media celebrity. Kaine brings a great deal to the ticket. Kaine's career includes executive experience as mayor of Richmond as well as lieutenant governor and governor of Virginia. On the national stage he is well-liked, and he sits on the important Foreign Relations Committee. His experience effectively demonstrates the most important quality any vice presidential nominee must have: If needed, he is prepared to step in as president.

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Kaine's nomination would avoid the risks associated with popular candidates who can go off message and even hurt the top of the ticket. Kaine is not likely to imitate someone like former Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin by going rogue, or by drowning out the campaign message with media gaffes. As the former head of the Democratic National Committee, Kaine understands how to deal with national media, stay on message and be a team player. In an election cycle driven by repeated media blunders, having a candidate who can handle the spotlight is vital.

In addition to his experience, Kaine's popularity in Virginia would put pressure on the Republicans. He is well-known in his home state, and his ability to reach voters in Virginia could keep that state in Democratic hands and make the electoral challenge for Republicans even more difficult. Indeed, his ability to reach working-class white voters could help Clinton outside Virginia in both the South and the Midwest.

Kaine also is a leading proponent for immigration reform, an issue that may be pivotal in the upcoming election. Kaine was the first to deliver a Senate floor speech entirely in Spanish when he spoke in favor of immigration reform. Kaine learned to speak fluent Spanish in Honduras where he lived for a year working as a missionary while taking a year off from his studies at Harvard. His ability to speak to millions of Hispanic voters directly will be a significant asset in the race.

Some will surely view Kaine as too safe and too establishment a candidate in a year of upheaval and change. Safe and recognized candidates have struggled through the nomination process for both parties. Clinton managed to win the nomination, but it was a fight to the end with a candidate who many pundits originally believed would not be credible. Indeed, many of those same pundits now argue that voters are frustrated and looking for someone to channel that anger and dissatisfaction with the government like Sanders or Warren.