Joe Biden finds himself in quite a pickle. The closer he gets to announcing a choice for his running mate, the more controversies pop up about the alleged frontrunners. Whether its trips to Cuba and fawning over Castro or baggage over past actions in office, some of the women on his list are potential disasters waiting to happen.
Lets be honest Joe Biden isnt making the decision anyway. His team is doing it for him and theyll let him know when a decision is made. All of the possible candidates are female and most are women of color because that is what is expected in todays political climate. Sorry, Elizabeth Warren. She is not only a White woman but she is also a bit long in the tooth. Sleepy Joe needs some energy infused into his campaign and while Elizabeth Warren has a high energy level on the campaign trail, she is nonetheless a seventy-year-old woman who would be running with a 77-year-old man. Biden will celebrate his 78th birthday shortly after election day.
I keep thinking that since President Trump is starting to catch on favorably in polling with his law and order actions, Team Biden may be putting that at the top of the list of for qualifications. That could mean Kamala Harris because of her experience as Attorney General of California and the San Francisco District Attorneys Office. But, her history in those positions is less than palatable to the far left. Biden could pick her because she is well-known but he doesnt need her to deliver California for him and the Bernie Bros wing of the party wouldnt be happy. Also, Kamala is an ambitious politician. Shell run again for president and Biden will have to keep looking over his shoulder with her. She didnt catch on with voters during the presidential primary. A recent USA Today/Suffolk poll shows 72% of Democrats want Biden to select a woman of color as his vice president. In that poll, 36% said they would be excited with Harris as the choice.
Team Biden could choose Rep. Val Demings if hes going with a law and order choice. She had a 27-year career in law enforcement that ended with her being the first woman to become Chief of the Orlando Police Department. She was also a member of the House impeachment team. She has raised her profile during the BLM marches and rioting through cable news interviews. Her professional history, though, will likely not go over with the BLM supporters. This is 2020 and that is just how it is.
Susan Rice is alleged to be at the top of the list. Shes got experience in foreign policy and Biden worked with her during the Obama administration. He is said to be comfortable with her. Conservatives would rejoice if she is chosen because of her hideous record in foreign policy, including Benghazi. For those hoping Biden will be Obamas third term, Rice would be a good choice. She could help get the rest of the band back together. That would be enough to send any conservative running, not walking, to the polls in November to vote for Trump. Shes never run for elected office, though, and her personality isnt exactly all warm and fuzzy so shed be an unknown quantity on the campaign trail.
Those three women of color are the ones who I think are at the top of the list. I did see Stacey Abrams on a Sunday show yesterday but I think her ship has sailed. And, I saw Karen Bass on one show but, as referenced above, she has some real baggage that has to be explained away.
One name that no longer makes news for being on the list is Amy Klobuchar. She would be a reasonable choice but shes a White woman. She could bring the moderates out to vote and help pretend that Joe wont go bat poop crazy to keep the far-left appeased once he gets into office. Hes already said hell be the most progressive president if hes elected so Klobuchar could calm the voters in the middle of the country. But, he wont pick her. She really got the short end of the stick, if you ask me. She dropped out of the primary and flew immediately to Texas to campaign for Joe. Im not sure what Team Biden promised her but it seems like she got a raw deal.
Originally, Biden said hed announce his choice on or near August 1. Since then the timeline has been fluid. Now the announcement is reported to be pushed back to August 10. The Democrat convention begins August 17, so hes running out of time if hes going to make an announcement before then. Biden is beholden to Black voters, especially Black women voters, so he limited himself right away as he pandered to Black voters. Now he has to keep the Bernie Bros happy. Will Sanders play a part in the selection of Bidens running mate? Bernies voters are not at all excited about Biden. Sanders is now telling Democrat voters to just go ahead and get Biden elected and then they can work out their agenda after Bidens in office. Which sounds a lot like, Just hold your nose and vote for Joe. Not exactly a rousing endorsement, amirite?
I have no sympathy for Team Biden. The longer they take, the worse the top contenders look. The party of identity politics is more concerned about checking boxes than looking clear-eyed for the best running mate. Thats fine with me. I dont want the next president to be a Democrat anyway, especially one who will only be a figurehead and allow the Marxist wing of the party to gain control.