AP photo

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine playfully closes the door on a radio station employee taking a cellphone photo prior to his appearance on the program ''Ask the Governor'' at the studios of WRVA radio in Richmond this morning.

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Gov. Tim Kaine continued to sidestep questions this morning about his prospects for being the Democratic Party’s vice presidential candidate, but said “it’s never seemed that likely to me.”

In a monthly radio appearance on the Virginia News Network, Kaine was asked about growing speculation that he is a top contender to be Sen. Barack Obama’s running mate. Kaine said he would not discuss his conversations with the campaign. He added that he has not been told how soon Obama may decide on a vice presidential candidate.

Speculation about Kaine’s prospects gained steam this week amid reports that the governor has had serious talks with the Obama campaign about joining the ticket. Kaine lacks a national profile and a signature achievement as governor, but Obama is making an aggressive push to win Virginia’s 13 electoral votes. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried Virginia since 1964.

Kaine took one phone call Thursday morning from a man who questioned whether he had any qualifications in national security or foreign affairs.

“I’m not going to make a case for myself for VP because I haven’t ever asked to be considered and not seeking anything,” Kaine said.

But the governor acknowledged that his “core competency” is in domestic policy areas such as education and the economy.

“I’m an economy and education guy – that’s what governors do,” Kaine said. “And I have worked very hard to really help the Virginia economy be strong.”

Kaine noted that most of the major state economic development deals announced on his watch have involved foreign investments. The governor also recently completed an economic development and marketing trip in Europe.

“People from around the world are finding Virginia as a great place to invest,” Kaine said. “And so we are working heavily in the global marketplace to encourage those investments. That’s not foreign policy [or] national security, but it is international relations in another way.”