Post of my comment made under this post:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/05/so-how-does-obama-graciously-n.php

I don't buy that he [Obama] picks Webb [for the VP slot]. The novels he wrote with fictional rape scenes and other sexual scenes were panned for being misogynistic. Talk about turning off women voters in a race where a woman was denied the 'inevitable' nomination. But, I believe that Webb's fellow Virginian, Gov. Tim Kaine, would make a great VP. Very religious background (former missionary:Community organizing) and bona fide progressive fiscal policies. He would carry VA for certain and maybe puts the blue wave within reach of NC/TX in the general election. That's to say nothing of MO/CO/IA/WI/OH/FL. To me, a Virginian (living now in NY), Kaine is a no brainer.

I happen to suspect that Obama is looking for a running mate that shares his frame of mind: pragmatic, progressive, and a record of working for consensus on progressive policies, which fits in Obama's message of unification and a common national purpose. He's not looking for branding types: hawkish, religious, fiscal conservative, religion or race. That would undermine the very premise of his candidacy, which is that a unified national purpose is not acheived by the same approach to politics. Of course, this is itself political, the new kind.

I also recall that prior to the VA primary, there were numerous articles on the observation that the two of them had never met prior, but soon connected strongly, sharing 'war stories' about their shared politics. I think their two backgrounds- Kaine doing missionary work and Obama doing community organizing- indicates they share a common outlook on creating consensus around progressive policies. I'm just connecting dots because there are dots to connect, but it won't be for loss of logic.

Please comment on other tea leaf observations in the media.