With the selection committee in place, the campaign of former vice president and presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has begun the process of vetting potential running mates. Here are the people reportedly being considered.
Biden pledged at a debate in March to pick a woman as his running mate, eliminating popular choices like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo from contention.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) withdrew from consideration and called on Biden to pick a woman of color, while Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) pulled her name as well, citing the state of Nevada’s economy.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a Thai-American Iraq War veteran who had both her legs amputated after her helicopter was shot down, will interview with Biden, fellow Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin confirmed.
Biden has also reportedly asked for vetting papers from New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a former House member who was elected governor in 2018 and would be the first Hispanic American to serve as vice president.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who was first elected in 2018 and has been a lightning rod for Trump’s animus during the coronavirus pandemic, said she is in talks with the Biden campaign to begin the vetting process.
Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), a former Orlando police chief who worked as one of six Democratic impeachment managers during Trump’s impeachment trial, confirmed that she’s on the short list.
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) who also served as governor, is being vetted, according to New Hampshire radio station WMUR, while fellow Sen. (and former Gov.) Jeanne Shaheen declined the invitation.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms, who has emerged as a key figure in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in police custody, is being vetted by the campaign, according to Politico.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), two of Biden’s opponents during the Democratic primary who are seen as top contenders for the position, are both being vetted, CNN Analyst April Ryan reported.
Ryan also reported that former UN Ambassador Susan Rice and former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams are being vetted for the position as well.
The New York Times reported that Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, who was one of the most unpopular governors in 2019 until her approval rating skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic, has spoken to Biden’s vetting team.
KEY BACKGROUND
Biden’s former 2020 opponents Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) tend to lead in polls of Democratic voters and are widely seen as frontrunners for the position. Former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams, who lost a hotly contested race for governor in 2018 and has since led various voter access efforts, has also been the object of much media speculation due to her public campaign for the slot.
BIG NUMBER
50%. A Data For Progress poll, conducted by Civiqs, found that 50% of Democrats favor a woman of color for VP. However, among the various candidates, Warren leads with 27%, followed by Harris at 21%, Abrams at 14% and Rice at 6%. Klobuchar came in at 5%, tied with Demings.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
A number of prospects have been openly auditioning for the vice presidential slot, with many—including Whitmer, Harris, Warren, Klobuchar and Abrams—doing events and media appearances with Biden in recent weeks. Behind the scenes, various interest groups have been competing for Biden’s favor, with strong pushes for a Hispanic or African American pick. Biden has said he’s looking for a running mate who would be prepared to take over for him as president. Polls have shown Democratic voters agree, while also placing a high premium on boosting the ticket electorally.
------------------
Who is your favorite for Democratic Ticket Vice President, 2020?