Article said she doesn't feel a need to placate Sanders supporters
That's the right attitude. Just like Obama felt no need to placate the PUMA crowd she should also ignore the Berniebots and make the best choice based on factors like campaign skills, qualifications and governing.
Except picking Biden was meant to help shore up his weakness with the white working class. Clinton would be dumb not to do the same with her weaknesses.
Uh, I doubt that's why Obama picked Biden. It's been a long time since VP's were picked to win states or demographics. George W. Bush picked Dick Cheney, making a crucial overture to the people of Wyoming. Bill picked Al Gore, a fellow white moderate from the south (which is what Gore was in 1992), doubling down on his own strengths (and weaknesses) even though he'd just emerged from a contentious primary. H.W. Bush picked Quayle... a crucial play for the illiterate vote? Reagan picked H.W. for party unity reasons, probably, but that was a long time ago in a specific set of circumstances.
Basically, I really doubt Obama picked Biden because he thought it would be his ticket to electoral success in West Virginia and AFAIK there's no evidence to suggest he did. Also, remember that Obama's VP shortlist supposedly included names like Evan Bayh, a genuine moderate from the rust belt, who would have been a much better pick than a northeastern liberal like Biden if Obama was really trying to make some sort of cynical play for working class whites with his VP pick.
