Biden's Running Mate Speculation and Wishlist

[Redwyrm]

As we have all seen in the past a vice president running mate can be a big energy boost or energy drain from a campaign (see Sarah Palin). So with Biden all but getting the nomination at this point I think it's a good time to start speculating about who he will pick to be his running mate.

I thought I heard way earlier that he was 100% going to pick a woman, but not sure if that was confirmed and still on the table.

Here is a list I found that should start off the discussion

Senator Kamala Harris (California)
Senator Tammy Duckworth (Illinois)
Senator Elizabeth Warren (Mass)
Representative Karen Bass (California)

Personally I would prefer someone who shores up Biden's weak areas. Someone who can go on the attack. I just hope Biden doesn't make the mistake Hillary made by choosing someone like Tim Kaine. I am sure Kaine was fine but she needed someone with more umpf.

Mod Edit: This thread is closed.

[Sorshen]

I think Biden was stupid to throw "100% woman VP" out there so soon. But then again competence has no place in politics these days...

Kamala? Well... people already hiding her shitty past under the rug.

I'd say Warren cause of her stance on various things, but judging by her performance in the primaries... oof.

Gabby Giffords still in politics?

[cubby]

As we have all seen in the past a vice president running mate can be a big energy boost or energy drain from a campaign (see Sarah Palin). So with Biden all but getting the nomination at this point I think it's a good time to start speculating about who he will pick to be his running mate.

I thought I heard way earlier that he was 100% going to pick a woman, but not sure if that was confirmed and still on the table.

Here is a list I found that should start off the discussion

Senator Kamala Harris (California)
Senator Tammy Duckworth (Illinois)
Senator Elizabeth Warren (Mass)
Representative Karen Bass (California)

Personally I would prefer someone who shores up Biden's weak areas. Someone who can go on the attack. I just hope Biden doesn't make the mistake Hillary made by choosing someone like Tim Kaine. I am sure Kaine was fine but she needed someone with more umpf.

I'm almost positive that Biden won't make the mistake Hillary did - picking her male clone. Biden is getting good advice, and has already committed to a woman - and given all the race issues raging in this country, it's almost guaranteed to be a woman of color. Warren would be the only white choice that would make sense.

And, given that your list above is more than likely Biden's short list, he's got a good list to choose from.

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I think Biden was stupid to throw "100% woman VP" out there so soon. But then again competence has no place in politics these days...

Why? There is no bad reason to have almost made that commitment, and plenty of good ones.

[draynay]

Why? There is no bad reason to have almost made that commitment, and plenty of good ones.

Tokenism, it can look like you're choosing the best woman instead of the best candidate. That's why I didn't like the announcement, I feel it detracts from the value of the eventual choice since she will appear to have been drawn from an incomplete pool.

[downnola]

As we have all seen in the past a vice president running mate can be a big energy boost or energy drain from a campaign (see Sarah Palin). So with Biden all but getting the nomination at this point I think it's a good time to start speculating about who he will pick to be his running mate.

I thought I heard way earlier that he was 100% going to pick a woman, but not sure if that was confirmed and still on the table.

Here is a list I found that should start off the discussion

Senator Kamala Harris (California)
Senator Tammy Duckworth (Illinois)
Senator Elizabeth Warren (Mass)
Representative Karen Bass (California)

Personally I would prefer someone who shores up Biden's weak areas. Someone who can go on the attack. I just hope Biden doesn't make the mistake Hillary made by choosing someone like Tim Kaine. I am sure Kaine was fine but she needed someone with more umpf.

If it were me, I'd go with Condoleezza Rice. It'd break a long tradition of choosing same party candidates and it would pull in a lot of independents. I also think she'd be a great VP and is closer to Biden in terms of ideology than she is to the current Republican party.

Warren would also be a great pick.

[Sunseeker]

I'm hesitant to suggest he should pick anyone who is currently a Senator or Representative. Those seats are FAR more valuable than the VP slot right now in terms of passing policy. We want to stack the deck, not move the cards around.

[Blur4stuff]

I agree with others about Hillary and Kaine. I have to imagine Biden and his team won't let something like that happen again. I don't care about it being a woman or not. To me it's most important that the VP bring something to the table that Biden can't. I want someone that will fire up parts of the base that Biden may struggle with and has the ability to reach out to other groups which may be on the fence.

I don't expect either of them to take much away from the hardcore right wing base. Unless they somehow figure out a way to take abortion out of the discussion. Which I do think is possible but the dems wouldn't do what's necessary. That alone would cripple the crazy, brainwashed type support that republicans get.

[Redwyrm]

If it were me, I'd go with Condoleezza Rice. It'd break a long tradition of choosing same party candidates and it would pull in a lot of independents. I also think she'd be a great VP and is closer to Biden in terms of ideology than she is to the current Republican party.

Warren would also be a great pick.

Rice would be the absolute worst pick. She carries a lot of baggage with regards to the Bush admin and her role in the Iraq war. And it would keep a lot of democratic voters away from the polls as well as being a slap in the face to the majority of the Democratic base. And I don't think it would bring any independents over. Tired of hearing the double standard that Republicans can spit all over country unity and nobody says a word, but when it comes to Democratic politicians, if they don't bend over far enough to make things work with every Republican than they are too divisive.

[cubby]

Tokenism, it can look like you're choosing the best woman instead of the best candidate. That's why I didn't like the announcement, I feel it detracts from the value of the eventual choice since she will appear to have been drawn from an incomplete pool.

Ok, yeah, that's a good reason. You're saying even if you intend to do it, signaling ahead of time takes away from the eventual choice, because it makes it seem like the candidate pool was already limited. Interesting....

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I'm hesitant to suggest he should pick anyone who is currently a Senator or Representative. Those seats are FAR more valuable than the VP slot right now in terms of passing policy. We want to stack the deck, not move the cards around.

But picking Harris from CA isn't going to result in a Senate flip. That state is going to vote Blue for awhile to come, barring some outlandish situation.

However, I do agree with your general point. I wish there was a pool of good people who were former Senator/Representative/Governor. And also, most people who achieve that height of politics are wanting more - i.e. the VP/Presidency.

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If it were me, I'd go with Condoleezza Rice. It'd break a long tradition of choosing same party candidates and it would pull in a lot of independents. I also think she'd be a great VP and is closer to Biden in terms of ideology than she is to the current Republican party.

Warren would also be a great pick.

Damn - she would be a terrific choice.

[Thekri]

Damn - she would be a terrific choice.

Susan Rice, yes. Condoleezza Rice, Hell no.
Condoleeza Rice is an extremely pro-gun, anti-immigration, anti-gay marriage, Pro-Confederate monument Neo-Conservative. You aren't going to win Trump's base away from him, and you could loose the liberal vote with that kind of slap in the face to the progressive side of the party.

Susan Rice is an excellent pick, and with any other candidate I would say she would be front of the pack. However Biden doesn't really need a VP that provides reliable experience and a calm energy. He has that covered himself. He would probably be best of going with someone mostly unknown, with a lot of young energy. Someone that the GOP doesn't have attack lines already written for (Susan Rice was somewhat involved in the Benghazi situation, although she didn't do anything wrong, I really don't want to hear about it for the next 5 months).

[Vyndion]

Warren won't happen because it means another +1 required in the Senate.

Harris is best choice.

Demmings/Abrams/Bottoms are just going to cause more right-wing hate and the best course of action is to let the race-baiters feel depressed to not show.

Honestly, I really want a dark horse Michelle but Lord knows that won't happen.

Edit: Condi rice lol

[downnola]

Rice would be the absolute worst pick. She carries a lot of baggage with regards to the Bush admin and her role in the Iraq war. And it would keep a lot of democratic voters away from the polls as well as being a slap in the face to the majority of the Democratic base. And I don't think it would bring any independents over. Tired of hearing the double standard that Republicans can spit all over country unity and nobody says a word, but when it comes to Democratic politicians, if they don't bend over far enough to make things work with every Republican than they are too divisive.

You do realize Joe Biden championed the Iraq War too, right?

If people are going to snub their nose at moderate republican politicians then you need to look at the person who's the nominee of the Democratic party. There isn't a whole lot of difference there, I'm sorry to say.

[Sunseeker]

But picking Harris from CA isn't going to result in a Senate flip. That state is going to vote Blue for awhile to come, barring some outlandish situation.

Probably not with Harris at least.

However, I do agree with your general point. I wish there was a pool of good people who were former Senator/Representative/Governor. And also, most people who achieve that height of politics are wanting more - i.e. the VP/Presidency.

And those are the last people who should be considered.

[cubby]

Susan Rice, yes. Condoleezza Rice, Hell no.
Condoleeza Rice is an extremely pro-gun, anti-immigration, anti-gay marriage, Pro-Confederate monument Neo-Conservative. You aren't going to win Trump's base away from him, and you could loose the liberal vote with that kind of slap in the face to the progressive side of the party.

I think you need to read up on her positions. Not necessarily the best source, but it's a start.

Susan Rice is an excellent pick, and with any other candidate I would say she would be front of the pack. However Biden doesn't really need a VP that provides reliable experience and a calm energy. He has that covered himself. He would probably be best of going with someone mostly unknown, with a lot of young energy. Someone that the GOP doesn't have attack lines already written for (Susan Rice was somewhat involved in the Benghazi situation, although she didn't do anything wrong, I really don't want to hear about it for the next 5 months).

Susan Rice would be a terrible pick - the Right would go nuts on her performance as AG. Nope. At least three better picks, not including Warren. Take another look at Condoleezza.

I think, however, the short list is Harris, Demmings, Abrams, Duckworth (maybe).

[Thekri]

I think you need to read up on her positions. Not necessarily the best source, but it's a start.




Susan Rice would be a terrible pick - the Right would go nuts on her performance as AG. Nope. At least three better picks, not including Warren. Take another look at Condoleezza.

I think, however, the short list is Harris, Demmings, Abrams, Duckworth (maybe).

I do not understand what you hope to gain by yielding to the right. Condoleeza wouldn't bring in a single vote that isn't already voting for Biden, and she would tie his candidacy to that of George Bush, which is just insanity. He can win by repeating the word "Obama" enough times, he doesn't want to be tied to the much less popular administration.

I mentioned Susan Rice would be an easy target for attack ads, but she did a legitimately good job. I agreed he should go with some else, but I would be fine with Susan Rice, particularly if she could top the ballot in 2024.

[Rasulis]

Ok, yeah, that's a good reason. You're saying even if you intend to do it, signaling ahead of time takes away from the eventual choice, because it makes it seem like the candidate pool was already limited. Interesting....

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But picking Harris from CA isn't going to result in a Senate flip. That state is going to vote Blue for awhile to come, barring some outlandish situation.

However, I do agree with your general point. I wish there was a pool of good people who were former Senator/Representative/Governor. And also, most people who achieve that height of politics are wanting more - i.e. the VP/Presidency.

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Damn - she would be a terrific choice.

If Harris become VP in November, Newson get to appoint her replacement till 2022. I assume he won't try to sell Harris's Senate seat like Rod Blagojevich did with Barack Obama’s Senate seat.

[cubby]

I do not understand what you hope to gain by yielding to the right. Condoleeza wouldn't bring in a single vote that isn't already voting for Biden, and she would tie his candidacy to that of George Bush, which is just insanity. He can win by repeating the word "Obama" enough times, he doesn't want to be tied to the much less popular administration.

I mentioned Susan Rice would be an easy target for attack ads, but she did a legitimately good job. I agreed he should go with some else, but I would be fine with Susan Rice, particularly if she could top the ballot in 2024.

Both of your points are valid - I just like Condoleeza - which is why I am arguing for her at potential VP. However, there are better choice, and your point about her dragging in Bush is solid. So no Rice's at all in 2020.

Regarding the other three/four - I hate to be, well, crass/superficial, but Harris is the best looking of the three.

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If Harris become VP in November, Newson get to appoint her replacement till 2022. I assume he won't try to sell Harris's Senate seat like Rod Blagojevich did with Barack Obama’s Senate seat.

Interesting. He might want to appoint himself. That's for another thread though.

I still think Abrams is the best choice - puts Georgia squarely into play, scares the hell out of the GOP for other "solid" southern states, and puts voter disenfranchisement at the top of the chart for issues (it's been one of Abrams major issues in Georgia).

Harris would be a fucking terrific AG.

[Redwyrm]

You do realize Joe Biden championed the Iraq War too, right?

If people are going to snub their nose at moderate republican politicians then you need to look at the person who's the nominee of the Democratic party. There isn't a whole lot of difference there, I'm sorry to say.

Please don't go there with the "both sides" line.

[Rasulis]

Both of your points are valid - I just like Condoleeza - which is why I am arguing for her at potential VP. However, there are better choice, and your point about her dragging in Bush is solid. So no Rice's at all in 2020.

Regarding the other three/four - I hate to be, well, crass/superficial, but Harris is the best looking of the three.

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Interesting. He might want to appoint himself. That's for another thread though.

I still think Abrams is the best choice - puts Georgia squarely into play, scares the hell out of the GOP for other "solid" southern states, and puts voter disenfranchisement at the top of the chart for issues (it's been one of Abrams major issues in Georgia).

Harris would be a fucking terrific AG.

The democrats will lose 1 senate seat till at least 2022. Kemp get to pick her replacement. Can't pick a senator from a state with a GOP governor. Which actually eliminates Warren also. Duckworth will work though.

[downnola]

Please don't go there with the "both sides" line.

You need to learn to read because I didn't make a both sides argument. Biden could easily pass as a moderate conservative and didn't just vote for the Iraq war, he made arguments for it prior to 2001. Explaining how two politicians are close to the center and supported the Iraq War isn't saying both parties are the same.