(Missourinet) – Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s Vice Presidential pick is being praised by a former Mizzou football star from St. Joseph, who’s running for a Missouri House seat.

Martin Rucker, a St. Joseph native, is a Clinton delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. He’s also running for the Missouri House, in the Kansas City area. Rucker said he is excited about Clinton’s decision naming Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate.

“A Rockhurst guy, a Mizzou guy, I think he’ll help her (Clinton) in the state of Missouri and he’ll be a great Vice President,” Rucker said.

Senator Kaine will speak at the Convention Wednesday evening. He graduated from Mizzou in 1979. Rucker, a former All-American tight end, said Kaine brings “a sense of unity.”

“You know that’s what the Democratic Party is, is we’re a party of inclusion, we’re a party that accepts everyone, we’re a party of unity,” Rucker said. “It’s not about hate, it’s not about bigotry, it’s not about kicking people out and all of that. It’s about bringing everyone who’s here together and making everything work for all of us.”

Rucker played at Mizzou from 2004 to 2007. His father, Martin Rucker Sr., served in the Missouri House.