Tim Kaine for Interior Secretary?

Kaine has said repeatedly and forcefully that he will not be joining the Obama Administration before his time as governor is up. His current term ends in January 2010.

Still, that hasn’t stopped people from speculating. Most often we hear his name attached to the Attorney General post. But, I wonder if he wouldn’t be a much better fit as Secretary of the Interior.

Kaine has devoted considerable resources of time and energy as governor to preserving Virginia’s open spaces. He has a goal of protecting 400,000 acres before his term is up. He is also an avid outdoorsman, spending most vacations camping, hiking, hunting, and fishing.

Most Secretaries of the Interior come from the Western Mountain states, and accordingly most of the names floated for the position in an Obama Administration are from Montana, Colorado, and Alaska.

But, I wonder if the next Interior Secretary could come from a state much closer to Washington.