DALLAS _ Tim Kaine stepped through North Texas on Wednesday, gobbling up cash and making soft overtures to Latino voters.
As part of a two-day swing through the Lone Star State, the Democratic nominee for vice president sandwiched a short campaign stop at Gloria's Latin Cuisine between fundraisers in Fort Worth and Dallas.
Organizers did not say how much money Kaine raised while in the Metroplex, and the events were closed to the media and general public.
For Kaine, Texas presented two goals: He sought to raise critical campaign dollars and craft a message, and perhaps an image, for the Latino voters Democrats will need to beat Donald Trump and Republicans in November.
The Virginia senator made an unannounced visit to Gloria's in the Bishop Arts District, where he mingled with a few voters and conducted an interview for a Spanish-language television station.
Many of the folks he encountered at a table near the back of the restaurant were local Democrats, so his stop was more about the photo opportunity than actual politics of persuasion.
He took pictures with Barbara Rojas and bantered in Spanish with her husband, Fernando.
Shortly afterward, reporters were asked to leave.
Kaine had a similar event Tuesday in Austin, where he greeted patrons at Taqueria Chapala.
According to a pool report from that visit, Kaine spoke extensive Spanish with employees and diners.
His longest encounter was in Spanish with a diner.
"They say Mexicans sell drugs and this and that, kick those people out, that they are not good. My people work," one diner said.
Kaine replied: "We understand that the Latino community is a community of faith, family and work. They are a source of strength for our country."
He added that Democrats and presidential nominee Hillary Clinton want immigration reform.
"We want to develop our economy," he said. "I want to fight for the community _ not against the community."
But Kaine's biggest Texas mission was raising money.
On Wednesday morning, he attended an event in Fort Worth at the home of Marilyn and Marty Englander.
His Dallas fundraising reception was held at the home of Gabby and Franklin McLarty, longtime supporters of Clinton.
During the Texas trip, Kaine did offer struggling statewide Democrats hope.
At his Austin stop, he said Clinton and Democrats were serious about winning Texas.
