Profile: Tim Kaine

Tim Kaine took office as Virginia's governor in 2006

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is set to be the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee, US media report, and is the choice of President-elect Barack Obama for the post.

The two men have much in common. Both studied law at Harvard University, as did both their wives.

And Mr Kaine's mother grew up in the same Kansas town - El Dorado - as Mr Obama's mother.

"I was really liking this guy. When I found out his mother grew up in the same town as my mom... I knew we knew we were separated at birth and I had to support him," Mr Kaine said in May 2007.

It was this early support for Mr Obama, more than any personal coincidences, that led many observers to place Mr Kaine high in the list of Mr Obama's potential running mates.

While the vice-presidential nomination went to Joe Biden, Mr Kaine has now been tapped by Mr Obama to be chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

This role is key in getting across the White House message, raising party funds, and overseeing preparations for the 2010 mid-term congressional elections.

Democratic Virginia

Mr Kaine was the very first politician of any stature outside Mr Obama's home state to endorse the Illinois senator.

He was often out on the campaign trail, and his backing helped to deliver Virginia, a swing-state, into Mr Obama's column - the first time a Democratic candidate had triumphed in the state for nearly 50 years.

Mr Kaine was born in Minnesota, but grew up in Missouri.

After studying at Harvard Law School (during which time he took a year off to do Roman Catholic missionary work in Honduras), he practised law for 17 years in Richmond, Virginia.

And following a stint on Richmond city council he became mayor of the city in 1998.

Then, in 2001, he won election to become Virginia's Lieutenant Governor, which left him perfectly-placed to run for the governorship itself in 2005.

He won the election, replacing fellow Democrat Mark Warner in January 2006.

His victory, and that of his predecessor, Mr Warner, were hailed as indications that Virginia was becoming an increasingly Democratic state.

Mr Kaine, whose term runs until the end of the year, remains popular in Virginia (although his approval rating is not as high as his predecessor's).

But his decision to be the Democratic Party's national chairman has its political risks, the Washington Post reports.

Virginia governors in the past have seen their popularity fall if they appeared more interested in the nation's capital than in their own state, the paper says.