Throughout the 2016 primary process, Hillary Clinton has been forced by her opponent, Bernie Sanders, to repeatedly attempt to ward off concerns that her extensive ties to Wall Street compromise her ability to regulate the financial industry and to hold its powerful players to account.
Now, leading up to the Democratic convention, similar questions are being raised about one of her potential vice presidential picks.
Tim Kaine, senator from Virginia, is, according to the Washington Post, one of the two leading candidates in Hillary Clinton's search for a running mate.
"Although her list is not limited to those two," the Post notes, "Clinton has spoken highly of both in recent days to friends and advisers as she closes in on an announcement that could come as soon as Friday."
And as news has consistently emerged indicating that he is at the top of Clinton's shortlist, Kaine has become more insistent in his support for financial institutions.
As The Intercept's David Dayen notes in a recent piece, Kaine "has spent this week signaling to the financial industry that he'll go to bat for them."
"On Monday, Kaine signed onto two letters, one to federal banking regulators and the other to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, urging them to loosen regulations on certain financial players. The timing of the letters, sent while Kaine is being vetted for the top of the ticket, could show potential financial industry donors that he is willing to serve as an ally on their regulatory issues."
