Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumBiden's Top 12 Running Mates, Ranked (by Bill Scher of Politico)
See the entire long column for his reasoning for why each woman is ranked in that particular order:
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/17/bidens-top-12-running-mates-ranked-134256
His column gives their names in reverse order, starting with the 12th.
Here's the order starting with the 1st:
1. Kamala Harris
2. Amy Klobuchar
3. Tammy Baldwin
4. Tammy Duckworth
5. Catherine Cortez Masto
6. Michelle Lujan Grisham
7. Val Demings
8. Gretchen Whitmer
9. Laura Kelly
10. Susan Rice
11. Elizabeth Warren
12. Stacey Abrams
I don't think anyone here will be surprised by the 1st and 2nd names on his list
As for the 11th and 12th and why they're so low on the list -- Scher said that Warren "has a lot of strong attributes, but being a deferential team player is not one of them" and added that if Warren wants a job with real power where she could go after Wall Street, she should be Treasury secretary or attorney general. And Scher pointed out that the highest office Abrams has held so far is as Georgia's House minority leader, and that isn't enough experience with Biden running as the candidate of reassurance.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
RelativelyJones
(898 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
onetexan
(13,899 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
PunkinPi
(5,003 posts)Biden/Harris
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
question everything
(48,833 posts)I like the two governors 5 and 8, though I am not sure how much experience Whitmer has.
Susan Rice would otherwise add foreign affairs experience but he does not need this.
The most important attribute should be no, not gender and race, but being in a lockstep with him. We have to accept it that he may not be able to finish his term and the V.P. will have to immediately continue without his or her own agenda.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
thesquanderer
(12,347 posts)It didn't seem to be a factor for Clinton and Gore. Or Bush/Cheney who were both from Texas until Cheney changed his legal residence in order to run.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
question everything
(48,833 posts)Hillary only won Minnesota and Illinois in the industrial Midwest. Also New Mexico and Colorado.
So, yes, we need someone from the Midwest.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
thesquanderer
(12,347 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
question everything
(48,833 posts)Still, there are several good Midwesterns on the list. And, as I have posted several times, I don't see Harris nor Warren being second to anyone.
And I disagree with the ones who want Warren to carry her agenda. It will be Biden agenda and in the sad event that he will not be able to complete his term, his VP should continue where it stopped.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
radius777
(3,814 posts)and Klobuchar did poorly in Iowa, there's no evidence she has appeal outside of her state.
Biden's goal should be to reassemble the Obama coalition, and you do that by choosing a woman of color, who has appeal to both the soccer moms as well as PoC and young people. It could also help with the Sunbelt states which are becoming increasingly important.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lees1975
(5,962 posts)Yeah, we want Iowa, but that's what, 5 electoral votes? He needs someone who can pick up states like Arizona and Florida and maybe even Texas. I think he will pull the Democratic coalition together across the Midwest, from Minnesota to the Northeast, including regaining Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania and also carrying Ohio.
Fins
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Celerity
(46,227 posts)Hillary's negatives where very high
Clinton and Trump had the two highest unfavourable levels of any modern matchup for POTUS
She also has continued to freefall, she is one of, if not the only, losing POTUS candidate who has not went up in popularity a year out after losing
although Gallup really needs to do a new poll on this, as surely she must have went up a bit by now, with the orange bloat doing so poorly (or maybe not, I really cannot say)
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Submariner
(12,673 posts)as VP, while Biden reverses everything Trump has undone with executive orders. Biden needs to travel abroad repairing NATO, Paris Accord, etc., while Warren kicks some Wall St ass.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
blm
(113,822 posts)But, we certainly need it now.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
unblock
(54,157 posts)If we can get a majority there, she'll be hugely important there, far more effective than as vp.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
not fooled
(6,074 posts)it seems highly unlikely. If Biden is considering Dimon and other Wall Streeters for his cabinet, no way Warren gets the VP slot.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Celerity
(46,227 posts)Plus Dimon just had a massive heart attack and emergency surgery, far worse than Bernie.
JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon has emergency heart surgery
https://www.ft.com/content/55538a00-5f3b-11ea-8033-fa40a0d65a98
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
tblue37
(66,035 posts)Biden shouldn't raid our Democratic officeholders in red states. We lost Kathleen Sebelius to Obama's cabinet, and in the next election we ended up with Sam Brownback, who destroyed our state's economy.
If Warren is raided for the cabinet, the GOP governor of Massachusetts will appoint her replacement, which would make it harder to get control of the senate.
Kamala Harris is from a very blue state. Her Senate replacement would be appointed by a Democratic governor. With Biden almost certainly serving just one term, she would be well positioned to become the first woman president--and the second black president.
We need to stop using the same narrow pool of office holders at the national level and start getting more talented local and state level politicians into the pipeline to serve at the national level so they will have a national profile.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Celerity
(46,227 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
oldsoftie
(13,538 posts)She's proven she can win statewide & could very well bring some midwestern states that may normally go red.
I never thought Abrams was a good fit because I live in GA & she wasnt even well known here till the Gov election.
I dont really care for the fact that men are just assumed to not count. But thats where we are.
Biden/Obama would be unstoppable IMO
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
tblue37
(66,035 posts)been quite clear about that.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
oldsoftie
(13,538 posts)We can always hold out a LITTLE hope
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
PatSeg
(49,725 posts)running for public office. Hillary was a very political person, not just married to one.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
oldsoftie
(13,538 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)They love him there.
Biden/Obama is impossible. The 22nd Amendment eliminates Obama from consideration, and that would probably drive turnout for the racists on Dolt45's behalf instead.
Where Biden needs help is North Carolina, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Georgia--states that have the potential to flip for him, with the right VP.
That means Kamala or, at an outside chance, Grisham, to rev up the Hispanic vote. If you want a demographic to vote big, especially one that's had lackluster participation in the past, then you pick one of them to run at the top of your ticket, to generate record-breaking enthusiasm and excitement. I firmly believe that Hillary would have won Arizona and Texas or at least made the latter scary-close if she had chosen Julián Castro as her running mate in 2016.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
oldsoftie
(13,538 posts)Unless you thought i meant Barack!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
rateyes
(17,453 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
polichick
(37,625 posts)because she has the guts and integrity to use it for the public good.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Happy Hoosier
(8,405 posts)I think she's fine. But just "fine."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dweller
(25,061 posts)is someone to consider, check her out
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_Solis
✌🏼
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
StevieM
(10,541 posts)I think Biden will ultimately pick Tammy Duckworth. But Hilda Solis would probably be my first choice.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LakeArenal
(29,813 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Celerity
(46,227 posts)Bill Scher is a corporatist and an NSA apologist.
here he argues Obama needs (in 2012) to suck up to corporate power more
How Liberals Win
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/opinion/sunday/how-liberals-win.html
and here he goes full NSA/surveillance state fanboy
The liberal case for high-tech NSA surveillance
https://theweek.com/articles/463339/liberal-case-hightech-nsa-surveillance
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
andym
(5,689 posts)The ticket is typically balanced on geography. However, in reality the ticket should always be balanced on helping to gain voter blocks that the candidate doesn't attract as well.
So which voting blocks does Biden have a weakness with?
African Americans? NO. Women? NO Latinos (Somewhat), Younger voters (less than 45) (Yes).
Basically those younger than 45 according to the "age gap" in the primary. Joe's running mate should be someone who can increase turnout and enthusiasm among younger voters--maybe not teen to 20'a crowd, but those 30-45 who vote more reliably than the 18-29 demographic.
In these troubled times, there is another key qualification, Joe has to pick someone who is viewed as experienced and competent enough to take charge in an emergency.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
judeling
(1,086 posts)Would it be possible to energize the youth vote without diluting his bas appeal? In that what part of the Youth vote.
This time around it is contrast that is important and just like Clinton/Gore a double down seems much more in order.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
elleng
(136,111 posts)but keep her in the Senate.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Yavin4
(36,399 posts)Biden will have to re-make the world when he wins. Everything from our economy, to healthcare, to taxes, to the environment, EVERYTHING has to be re-made.
He's going to need someone with plans and knowledge to draft an agenda to get us back on our feet, that is if we survive this.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
SCantiGOP
(14,248 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Todd79
(166 posts)If Biden just said lets piss off the nationalist right and picked Maxine Waters. Not gonna happen, but a man can dream.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Funtatlaguy
(11,793 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
nolabear
(43,215 posts)She sounded like a woman who was part of a plan.
I might favor Warren or Harris but shes great nonetheless.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lkinwi
(1,525 posts)I also like Harris and Klobuchar.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
GoCubsGo
(33,030 posts)She was born in Thailand. Granted, her father is a native-born US citizen. She is certainly well-qualified in every other way, shape and form. I would LOVE her to be VP, and eventually POTUS. I just worry about the circumstances of her birth. We all saw what happened to Obama for having a foreign-born parent. And, he was born on US soil.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(71,023 posts)It is bullshit to let the GOP choose our candidates...Cruze ran.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Happened to have been born male which he can't help.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
oldsoftie
(13,538 posts)Its silly
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(71,023 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
OnDoutside
(20,658 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Goodheart
(5,760 posts)I applaud the move.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NNadir
(34,675 posts)I personally would like to see Senator Warren; she is not a robot and has more flexibility than that for which she is given credit. I think it was unfair to pain her with the Sanders brush. She's much more than that.
On the other hand, I think it would be wise to consider youth and courage. This recommends Senator Duckworth.
Senator Baldwin, being gay, would send a powerful message about inclusion. The people who reject her on the grounds she is gay were going to vote for the racist child caging mentally unbalanced pig anyway.
I can't imagine anyone would object to Ms. Harris.
I have no objection to any of these outstanding women including those who I have not mentioned. I look forward to finding out who our VP candidate will be.
Having been an effective and active VP himself, I expect that Mr. Biden will give the same role to his VP has President Obama gave him. The country is badly damaged by incompetence and corruption and betrayal of our constitution and our sovereignty, and we will need a strong team to recover.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(71,023 posts)There is a GOP governor.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NNadir
(34,675 posts)It is, I think, unlikely that Senator Warren will be called to this role, but her intelligent voice needs to be heard in the coming trying times. One hopes that if she remains in the Senate, she will be a point person in close personal contact with Biden administration.
If there is nothing else to say about our primary season, we all had a chance to learn more about this remarkable woman. I say this as someone who disagrees with her a major point that is very important to me.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(71,023 posts)Senators. She was my second choice and she would should have additional Senate responsibilities in particular, she should be the point person about getting the economy moving and what needs to be done in order to do this.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NNadir
(34,675 posts)...since no first choice of mine has ever won the Democratic nomination, including my second first choice after switching from Senator Warren.
As I have never voted for any candidate for President who was not a Democrat - we had a bad scare there with Senator Sanders taking the first primaries - it is obvious I have voted for winners in the general election.
It is clear that the Republicans in the Senate are irresponsible nut cases, so I think it is important that we take it out of their hands.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
evertonfc
(1,713 posts)He must choose a woman of color. He owes his political ass to POC. To many to not to choose one. POC demand it. Ask Rep. Clyburn
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dansolo
(5,385 posts)Warren has no qualifications to be AG. Treasure Secretary or Commerce Secretary would make more sense. But the reality is that she should stay in the Senate.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Dem4Life1102
(3,974 posts)And why should anyone care about his opinion?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
onetexan
(13,899 posts)I will add though, that this particular Politico article is pretty good, with some really interesting names i hadn't thought about, and it's darn correct - there's quite a long list of highly qualified Democratic Fem Fantastiques for his picking. I have to agree re: Kamala. I'd be very surprised Joe goes with anyone else, and i also agree re: Warren being a great pick for Treasury. BUT i'd rather she stays in the Senate so we don't lose her seat. Leave the AG to my guy Preet. Such an accomplished USAG needs to be put to good use in service of the country.
Re: the female governors - Gretchen Whitmer, Laura Kelly, Michelle Lujan Grisham - damn they're talented women! The problem is they've only been at their posts for 2 years. NM & MI are swing states, and KS is a red state. I'd rather we keep them where they are. We need more Dem governors to thwart the GOP's continuing war for control of our state governments and implementing their conservative Christian agendas at the state level.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden