I was ready to comment on what promised to be an interesting primary. All of a sudden, every candidate dropped out. And Joe Biden was a winner. Covid-19 came along and there has not been much of a campaign. Right now we are less than 100 days from the election. It is about time Joe Biden picked a running mate. After all, there is only one life standing between the VP and the Presidency. and Biden is not young anymore, so you better make a good choice.
It will be a women, that is almost certain. Will it be a women of color? Biden is under a lot of pressure to pick a black woman. Let us take a look at some of the candidates.
Tammy Duckworth
Interesting profile as a veteran, something Americans tend to like and Asian roots. So yes a woman of color, but the wrong one.
Gretchen Whitmer
Gov of Michigan, a state the Democrats need to take back. However , Joe Biden is already doing great in the polls (+10% compared to Trump), he might decide Whitmer is not needed to win the state. Of all the white female candidates, she is probably in the best position. Even before Elisabeth Warren. The VP should be someone who represents the new generation of the Party. Whitmer, 48 years old, is just that.
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris is a black woman with Indian roots. check
A bit strange she is still in contention for the VP pick. During the campaign she attacked Joe Biden on busing and his past work with segregationists. Given the good relation between Joe Bidens late son Beau and Harris, this attack came as a surprise to him. Recently Biden was photographed with notes that stated he holds no grudge towards her. And she has supported Biden after her own campaign ended. That last point is maybe her biggest drawback. She wanted to be President herself, will she play the second fiddle? If I was Biden I think twice about her.
Susan Rice
Another black woman. She worked with Biden under Obama. She is not that well known with the public but she has a lot of experience on the international diplomatic scene. Her biggest problem, her role in the Benghazi attack. Something Trump liked to throw in Clintons face 4 year ago too. My guess, Susan Rice will be the new Secretary of State, not the VP.
Tulsi Gabbard
She is not mentioned anywhere, but she would be my pick. As a Democrat, she did not vote for impeaching Trump! She was neutral. We are currently stuck in this bipartisan war. She knew that it would only make matters worse. Months down the line Republicans and Democrats are bickering over support for people in need after massive job losses due to the covid-19 crisis. Trump is using executive orders to bypass congress. She also is more leaning towards Bernie Sanders. A group Biden musn’t forget. But she hasn’t got much friends in the Democratic Party. She will not be it. She is just too smart for the job.
Honorable mentions
Karen Bass: controversial ideas about Castro and Scientology.
Stacey Abrams: You get asked for the Vice Presidency, you do not apply for the job in the media. And she is yet to win a national election.
Conclusion
I put my money on Kamala Harris. And I also predict Biden will regret his decision. Biden was always loyal to Obama. He should not expect the same level of loyalty from Harris.