Who Should Biden Pick For VP?
One of Washington's greatest inside jokes is about the executive branch: being President is like living in a mansion, but being vice president is like being homeless.
That was the case with Joe Bide when he was Obama's VP. He was a man with lots of potential, but he didn't have the opportunity to show what he was capable of. As the Democratic VP nominee, he was a glorified servant to Barack Obama. With no hope of a great future, he helped his country by doing his part in getting the first Black President of the United States of America elected. Afterwards, Biden became VP, and his expectations of being the next mascot of the White House were proven false because President Obama saw Joe Biden as a very special person. He helped the Obama administration accomplish many things. Now Joe Biden must do the same in order to be elected president. He needs a good governing partner alongside him. Here are the 10 best people Biden should pick for VP:
1) Gretchen Whitmer -- Over the past couple of weeks, the COVID-19 has made some of America's governors widely popular. This is especially true for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. That's because during this crisis, Whitmer has been fighting for her state and has taken many strong executive decisions that prove that she's a strong leader. That's exactly why Biden should pick her to be his VP. Also, Biden has been overlooked during the pandemic, and putting her on the ticket will give him the narrative he needs to highlight Trump's coronavirus failures. People would also be put at ease with Biden's health because they know that there is a capable VP behind him. On top of that, unlike candidates like Klobuchar, Whitmer isn't a straight moderate, which would offer some contrast to the ticket . Helping Biden win Michigan and other Midwestern states would go a long way in helping Biden win the general election. The only question is this: Will she take the job?
2) Elizabeth Warren -- The truth is that progressives don't like Biden, and some would rather vote for Trump. That's a problem because, like it or not, we need progressives, and a Bernie endorsement won't be enough to convince some people to vote for Biden. Biden needs someone with progressive credentials, and Warren offers that to him. Also, Warren isn't anti-Biden or pro-Bernie. She has remained neutral, so she can support Biden if she wants to. Her college-educated base of voters can help Biden win in the Midwest. She's a huge attack dog against Trump, and she offers great contrast to progressives between Biden and Trump, which will help Biden. Overall, Biden needs Warren, and if he doesn't make her VP, then he should announce that she will be the secretary of the treasury or commerce. The point is this: YOU NEED WARREN!
3) Catherine Cortez Masto -- If you're not going to appeal to the Bernie brigade, then at least try to talk to the people Bernie appeals to: young people and Latinos. That's where Nevada Senator Cortez Masto comes in. The Nevada senator is very popular among establishment Democrats and brings a fresh voice to the table. She can help Biden in the West and in places like Florida. Biden is already popular among Midwestern voters, but to beat Trump, he needs to expand his map and make Trump compete everywhere. With an increased turnout among Latinos and working-class voters, Trump might lose Florida and Arizona and might have to compete in Texas. The point is that beating Trump will require someone who can add to the Biden coalition, and that's Catherine Cortez Masto.
4) Kamala Harris -- The common belief has been Kamala Harris is Biden's best bet for VP in the 2020 election, but that's far from true. Despite Harris' multi-racial background, she brings enormous baggage with her. Her personal life has been under scrutiny. Her record as California's attorney general has been a disaster. Her prosecutorial record is known to be racist and unlawful. Don't get me wrong--Harris is a skilled politician with a massive backing from Wall Street, but she doesn't add anything of consequence to Biden's ticket, except that she's a woman and an African American. Obama is probably a better choice than Harris on the identity issue. Michelle Obama, that is. Biden has a firm grasp on these two voter blocs, and it's not enough for Biden to keep his coalition together; he must expand it. Also, she has many conflicting policy positions that are too close to Biden. She doesn't change the trajectory of the election. Quite frankly, if Kamala were to be chosen as VP, I don't know if it would be good for the party. Any of the choices above would make a much better presidential candidate.
5) Tammy Duckworth -- I believe Tammy Duckworth would be a great VP, but she isn't very well known. Biden needs someone to change the narrative of the coronavirus, and Duckworth doesn't do that. Furthermore, Duckworth wouldn't bring a coalition of voters who matter to Biden or help him win key states like Michigan. Her war record is wonderful, and she has a great future in the Democratic party, but she has a problem with visibility and experience. Duckworth may be known as a war hero, but she's not well known as a political figure. Her experiences in Iraq would be good presidential material, but she's not good fit for VP. That's because being VP is about policy and experience, two things that Duckworth doesn't have. Duckworth would make a good secretary of defense or Veteran Affairs.
6) Stacey Abrams -- Abrams, is a rising star in the party and continues to be a beacon of hope. She's also an African-American woman from the South, which means that Democrats would have a shot to win states like Georgia and Florida. The problem with Abrams is that she doesn't have the experience needed to lead as VP. Also, her star power is one of tomorrow, and she risks damaging her own image because she doesn't have a national presense just yet. Running for governor again and giving a great speech at the Democratic National Convention could seal her fate as a future star. If Abrams had been sworn in as Governor rather than the clueless Governor Kemp, she would have been a frontrunner for Democratic nomination for president or vice president.
7) Tammy Baldwin -- The senator from Wisconsin has been important in the Democratic party and has always been seen as someone with potential. She has passed numerous pieces of legislation. More importantly, she would help carry her home state of Wisconsin. The Democrats need Wisconsin and need huge parts of the suburban vote, which is Baldwin's strength in her elections. She also wouldn't overshadow Biden, though she doesn't change the narrative either. She also doesn't bring demographics of color into the Biden ticket, which is a must. Worst of all, she's boring.
8) Amy Klobuchar -- Amy Klobuchar is one of the most pro-Biden supporters on this list, and that's a problem. From the beginning, Klobuchar has proven to be quite moderate, and she wouldn't bring contrast to the ticket. Klobuchar is also probably the worst candidate to unite moderates and progressives, and choosing her would send a message to Sanders' supporters that Biden and the Democrats don't care for their values. That would cost Biden in the long-run. The only reason that she's on this list is that, like Tim Kaine, she can carry her home state. Also like Tim Kaine, she's more boring than my pre-algebra teachers.
9) Michelle Lujan Grisham -- This governor from New Mexico has many strengths, including being a rising star in the Latino community, and she could help Biden win the Southwest and the Latino vote. Grisham's problems are that her appeal isn't far-reaching enough because she's new to the national stage. Also, her state gives her mediocre marks for her performance as governor, which means that she won't change the election. Finally, she doesn't have enough visibility to make Latino voters rush to Biden. I believe everyone on this list has lots of potential positives, but like a lot of politicians, Grisham needs more time to develop a message and to gain some experience. All I can say is good luck, Governor Grisham.
10) Val Demings -- The Florida representative is an ex-law official with lots of experience. She's a rock star among Florida Democrats, but her low profile as a member of the US House makes it hard to see her as Biden's VP. After all, there are a lot of more qualified people with her charisma. She wouldn't be the worst choice in the world. The congresswoman could be a plus on law-and-order issues and could bring African-American issues to the front and center. She's a good choice, but she's just an unrealistic pick. I believe she might rise higher on this list. We just have to wait and watch. Demings has a bright future ahead.
