With the Democratic Presidential Contest down to two over 75-year-old white men, several political journalists and pundits have already started to speculate on who Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders would pick as their Vice President.
The Vice Presidency, since the time of Walter Mondale, has been an increasingly important position in the United States Government. Mondale, Bush, Gore, Cheney, Biden, and Pence have all had integral roles in the Administrations they were a part of.
The position, especially with two potential nominees approaching 80, also demands that a person be ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise.
Given that consideration, one pattern seems to be emerging in these early stages of Veepstakes speculation.
In this Presidential election year, the first one after the first major-party woman nominee won the popular vote (but not the Presidency) and where the vote of women in all the parts of the country is crucial to the Democrat’s chances, no male public servant need apply to become the 2020 Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee.
Lynn Yaeger of Vogue wrote a piece, listing six women candidates that should be considered for the second spot on the ticket.
Washington Post columnists like Fred Hiatt and Henry Olsen have also put forth the idea that the Vice Presidential pick should be a lady.
So has Lisa Lerer and Reid Epstein of the New York Times.
What are the names of the potential early favorites to become the 2020 Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee and the factors that favor them and may disqualify them? More will undoubtedly be considered.
Stacey Abrams
Factors that favor her: A former 2020 Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate and Democratic State House Leader, Abrams, now a voting rights activist, is a popular regional (and national) leader whose popularity and reputation can conceivably put Georgia, the Carolinas, and Florida in play.
Factors that may disqualify her: Is she ready to be President?
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto
Factors that favor her: In her current office since 2017 (after a stint as Nevada’s Attorney General) and a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Senator Cortez Masto would solidify Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and definitely put Arizona in play.
Factors that may disqualify her: She is not well known outside the Southwest.
Representative Val Demings
Factors that favor her: A Florida African American Congressional Representative from the Tenth District since 2017, Ms. Demings is an experienced law enforcement officer who gained recognition when she was one of the House Trump Impeachment Managers. She has served on the House, Intelligence, Judiciary, and Homeland Security Committees. She would definitely put Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas in play.
Factors that disqualify her: None that are apparent at this time.
Senator Kamala Harris
Factors that favor her: A former 2020 Presidential Candidate, she has also demonstrated that she could do well on the stump and in debates.
Factors that may disqualify her: The Democrats are going to win California anyway and it is unclear what other states (neighboring Arizona for example) she can bring into the Democratic column in November. Just because she is African American, does that mean (unlike Abrams) she would have the regional appeal in the Southeast or Midwest Michigan.
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Factors that may disqualify her: Does she help increase turnout among Democratic voter groups? Also, if Biden is the nominee, is she too moderate for Sanders and Warren voters.
Factors that favor her: She comes from the Midwest and could help bring back Wisconsin, Pennslyvania, Michigan, and Iowa into the Democratic fold. She could also appeal to voters in Colorado and Virginia and help bring states like Arizona into the blue column. She is the most experienced legislator of the current favorites. She did very well in the Democratic Presidential Debates, earning a substantial number of newspaper endorsements and a third-place finish in New Hampshire.
Senator Elizabeth Warren
Factors that favor her: If Biden is the nominee, she could help pull in voters from the Warren-Sanders wing of the party.
Factors that may disqualify her: If she is the Vice Presidential nominee, the Republican Governor of Massachusetts will appoint her replacement until a special election occurs. Furthermore, if Sanders is the nominee, she may be too liberal for the Pragmatic Progressive wing of the party.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Factors that favor her: A Pragmatic Progressive Governor from Michigan, she became a political star with the response to Mr. Trump’s 2020 State of the Union. Like Klobuchar, she could help bring back Wisconsin, Pennslyvania, Michigan, and Iowa into the Democratic camp. She could ensure that states like Colorado and Virginia stay blue and could also appeal to voters in states like Arizona. As a Chief Executive of a state, she has demonstrated she can run a government.
Factors that disqualify her: She may not be as known as the other candidates.
With the exception of Abrams, all have the ability and experience to step in at a moment’s notice to assume the Presidency.
They would all bring increased voter enthusiasm to the ticket but there would be regional and demographic fluctuations.
Whoever Biden or Sanders picks from this or any other list, they need to pass their first test as a potential President: picking a Vice President that could be ready on a moment’s notice to become the country’s leader.
Bill Clinton and Barack Obama struck gold when they picked Al Gore and Joe Biden.
John McCain swung and missed on Sarah Palin.
George H.W. Bush had people praying for his health every day during his Administration because of worries of how Dan (how do you spell potato) Quayle could handle the Presidency.
If the Vice President is to be a lady, Biden and Sanders should make sure that she is ready to be President.
Nothing else matters and the Voters should appreciate that.
https://blogforarizona.net/is-it-too-early-to-start-veepstakes-in-the-democratic-party/
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