CNN calls it "The Situation Room."

But for Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine -- on Sen. Barack Obama's short list as a possible running mate -- it's more like a stage and an audition.

Kaine appeared on CNN from Norfolk yesterday afternoon and discussed Iraq and offshore drilling.

He also was asked the question that he gets just about everywhere he goes these days:

"Are you ready to be vice president, governor?" host Wolf Blitzer wondered.

"You know, I'm not running for anything, Wolf," said Kaine, attired in a blue pinstripe suit and red print tie.

"I signed on to help Senator Obama in February'07, and I've been proud to be a national co-chair of his campaign," he said. "But my highest and best use is trying to be a good governor and trying to help Senator Obama in Virginia."

It was the easiest question Kaine got during the 7½-minute interview. Most questions tested Kaine's fluency in foreign policy.

Blitzer asked Kaine if the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, deserved credit for advocating the increase in troop levels that is widely credited with increasing stability in Iraq.

"I don't know if he deserves credit," Kaine said. "The notion that more troops might lead to more stability I don't think is a controversial one, or it shouldn't have been."

Kaine also contrasted Obama's plan to implement a troop withdrawal in 16 months with McCain's approach, which does not set a specific timetable for getting out.

Asked about offshore drilling, Kaine said he favors exploratory drilling off Virginia's coast to determine the size of natural gas reserves.

Blitzer said Kaine's position seemed more similar to that of McCain than that of Obama. Kaine came back flying the Obama flag. "Let's drill in the nearly 70 million acres already leased to the oil companies for drilling before we wholesale hand over other acreage to them," he said.
Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or jnolan@timesdispatch.com.