Inevitable question: Joe Biden's running mate

[President Johnson]

Who would be a good choice or has chances to get picked if ends up being the nominee?

I think Kamala Harris ranks high in the list unless her campaign totally flops. She's both female and African American and might help energize these voters. Kamala would also be a good pick for the future of the Democratic Party. She could then take over the nomination and presidency in 2024. Her senate seat wouldn't be danger at all since California is as blue as it can get and Gavin Newsom selects a replacement.

Catherine Cortez-Masto is another women who could help with the hispanic community. Maybe Uncle Joe needs more help here than with African Americans, were he is already doing well. Democrats would most likely keep her senate seat after 2022. Until then, Steve Sisolak can appoint another Democrat.

Nanette Barragán as a congresswoman from California might help with hispanics as well. And she's relatively young at just 44 in 2020. She'd be a very good pick.

Kirsten Gillibrand is not ideal choice, but she could make it hard for anyone to criticize Biden over his touching issues (should they remain a topic). Plus, her seat in the senate is safe anyway.

Stacey Abrams has been floated as well, but  I think she better runs for senate in Georgia. Other than that, she's not that politically experienced. Harris is definitely more qualified for the job and better prepared should, god forbid, the presidency fall upon her early.

I'd like Pete Buttigieg as well, regardless of how he performs in the primaries. He's young and well articulated, though two white males on a Democratic ticket probably won't happen even if one happens to be gay. Mayor Pete might be a better choice for a cabinet appointment. The same is applies to Beto.



I don't see him picking Cory Booker, since he doesn't add that much to the ticket other than being black. And as already stated, Biden has already strong appeal to African Americans.

I think Biden is strong enough in the Rust Belt that he doesn't need Amy Klobuchar or Tammy Baldwin and put their senate seats into play for Republicans in subsequent special elections. I'm actually 80% sure he would pick Kamala, and this would be the best choice he can make. Closely followed by Barragán.

[President Johnson]

I don’t want Abrams to do it unless Biden unequivocally denounces his legislation from the 90’s and presents real policy to change what he did. I don’t want her used as a shield from his crappy anti-black rhetoric and policies.

His anti-black policies must have been the reason Obama picked him and became a close friend of his...

[President Johnson]

I know that if Joe Biden gets the nomination is supposed to pick a woman as his running mate and I'd love to see a female vice president (or president), but Mayor Pete would also be a strong vice presidential running mate for him. Certainly one of the best options among male candidates. Biden, especially if he wins the nomination, already has the black vote locked up and may not need Kamala or Abrams on the second spot (since they are running way behind him among blacks). Obama will also be out on the campaign trail for his old friend. Mayor Pete would bring youth to the ticket, excite millennials and boost Democrats in the Mid-West. Buttigieg would almost be assured to become the Democratic nominee in 2024 or 2028. And as vice president, he'd be given the opportunity to gather more experience for the Oval Office.

Also, the vice presidential debate between Mayor Pete and Mike Pence would be fun.

Any thoughts?

[President Johnson]

I'd love to see Pete debating Pence and a gay Vice President would be as historic as a female one, so yes, I'd support it.

If it happens, can't wait for the LGBTQ identity erasure in all the spicy "progressive" takes about how it's two white men, though.

Would also be funny if he travels to Saudi Arabia and they just have to take him in.

[President Johnson]

This was considered an option in 2015, but how about 2020? I think a scenario in which Joe Biden ends up as the nominee and Liz Warren finishing a strong second or third is not that unlikely. She's clearly on track to become the leading progressive candidate ahead of Bernie. In the end, Uncle Joe could decide that Liz actually helps him more than Kamala Harris as number two.

She would excite the progressive base and help with turnout among these groups, but she's also acceptable to the establishment. In the vice presidential debate, she would moop the floor with Pence. Biden is already doing well with the black community and he may come to the conclusion, he doesn't need additional help with someone like Harris. What speaks against her is she may alienate moderate voters in the suburbs, and we don't know yet whether and how intense she will go after Biden. If it gets too nasty, he might not consider her a real option. Warren is also over 70 and would not stand for a generational renewal.

Thoughts?

[President Johnson]

I have very mixed feelings. My opinion Tulsi went up since the last debate and my opinion of Kamala went down. She certainly brings some assets such as ticket balance by age, race and gender. Overall, I doubt he chooses her for the second spot and bring her in an excellent position for 2024 or 2028. There might be too much differences on foreign policy. Joe Biden is an internationalist and traditionalist on foreign policy and defense, she's almost the opposite.

Out of all the presidential contenders, I would actually like a Biden/Buttigieg ticket. I really like to see a female running mate, but Mayor Pete impresses me that much that I think he would be a good vice president (also as training ground for the Oval Office).

[President Johnson]

Dark horse: Congresswoman Nanette Barragan. She's young and latino.

My favorite would actually be Pete Buttigieg, but this isn't very likely. He probably gets a cabinet job. Uncle Joe will almost certainly pick a woman. With that being said, I have a feeling the chance for a Biden/Harris ticket has significantly dropped. I'm not even sure his choice will be a black woman, he's already doing well with that demographic. Maybe Tammy Baldwin, CCM or even Liz Warren are viable options. Of Liz comes in second and avoids getting nasty, I could see them teaming up for the general election.

A dream for Democrats would probably be if he asked Michelle Obama to be his running mate. But I guess she has absolutely no interest to run, even if she would do it if needed to defeat Trump. I just hope he doesn't pick Stacey Abrams. She should run against Cheatin' Brian again.

[President Johnson]

Is it just me or is there a real possibility Representative Nanette Barragan of California could be tapped as vice presidential running mate for Joe Biden, should he get the nomination? She turns 44 in 2020, is female, latina, within the mainstream of the party and seems to charismatic (and yes, I'm not going to lie, she's attractive). Also looks like she hasn't much baggage.

I think she might actually be a better running mate than Kamala, and certainly better than Abrams (who should try again in Georgia). Uncle Joe is already doing well with the African American community and a good fit for the Rust Belt, so why not having someone on the ticket who may help turning out some latinos, who are crucial in Arizona and Florida (and Texas as a longshot). And unlike the other candidates, she won't have attacked him that much even though she endorsed Harris.

There are some downsides, though: She's not from a swing state and has a relatively short experience in elected office (House member since 2017). This might raise questions on her preparedness to immediately step into the presidency if necessary since he would be the number two of a 78-year old president. I don't know whether this could be an issue, but according to Wikipedia, she's not married. But I guess those people not voting for a Biden/Barragan ticket because she's unmarried, wouldn't vote for them anyway, or wouldn't vote for Biden/Harris or Biden/Warren. Booker also isn't married and it doesn't seem to be a big deal so far.

As Biden supporter, I'd like that ticket. Thoughts?

[President Johnson]

I said it in another thread, but the last time anyone got elected with a VP who wasn't governor, senator, or cabinet-level official was 1932 when FDR had the speaker of the house as his VP.  The last person to win with just a run-of-the-mill representative as his VP was William Howard Taft in 1908.

Biden will nominate either a governor, senator, or Julian Castro, and that will be the end of it.  It's most likely going to be Tammy Duckworth or Cory Booker.

I doubt it won't be a woman. If it's a man, please let it be Mayor Pete.

[President Johnson]

Lmao, just no. Lamb is fine, but not as Biden's running mate. He should challenge Pat Toomey in 2022. Joe Biden would be well advised with a minority and/or female running mate. If he wants someone from the House, Nanette Barragan is an excellent choice. She's in her early/mid 40s, latina, has no baggage as it seems and in line with the Democratic mainstream or somewhat more progressive than Uncle Joe.

what about someone like Biden/Nanette Barragan? She's progressive, young, Latina, and has been in the news a decent amount.

I didn't read your post minutes prior to mine, but interesting we have the same opinion here.

[President Johnson]

No way, Sinema ads nothing to the ticket, she alienates more liberal voters than she appeals to conservative leaning ones. Joe Biden should be fine in Arizona (meaning strongly competitive) that it makes more sense for him to pick someone more within the party mainstream. Nanette Barragan would be an excellent choice.

[President Johnson]

Biden will be nominee, but Harris won't be his running mate

This. I hope it will be Joe Biden/Nanette Barragan.