Tim Kaine's RAGBRAI resume

Here’s a historical tidbit that may or may not drastically alter the political landscape of this fall’s presidential election.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign confirmed Saturday that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s vice presidential pick, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, rode at least some portion of The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa in 1996.

Clinton in her choice bypassed U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, as second in command. But this gives some indication that Kaine has intimate knowledge of the topography of our first-in-the-nation-caucuses state.

Kaine was born a Midwest boy in St. Paul, Minn., and is fluent in both Spanish and harmonica.

Does anybody in RAGBRAI Nation have any anecdotes about spotting or riding with Kaine in ’96? Political pedalers have been an occasional tradition on this world’s oldest, longest and largest touring bicycle ride.

The 44th RAGBRAI launches Sunday out of Glenwood, en route for Muscatine 420 miles down the road. Meanwhile, Clinton and Kaine will be busy with the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

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