# Assuming Biden gets the Democratic nomination, who would be the VP nominee? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 28, 2019, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173 "2019-04-28T14:29:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/41 "2019-04-30T05:32:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Given that both Trump and Obama won their elections, it should come as no great surprise that there are some folks who voted for both. And while it might be a small group, it’s an important one, because such people could be convinced to switch back for the right Democratic candidate, and thus be instrumental in defeating Trump. It might be difficult to understand the mindset of such a voter, but we have to understand them anyway. There are more Americans who will refuse to vote for a black man than who would refuse to vote for a woman. HOWEVER, anti-blacks are mostly going to vote for the GOP no matter what, while the anti-women voters are more evenly split between parties. Much of the anti-Hillary propaganda just provided excuses for anti-woman votes the voter would want to make anyway. Now that the Kremlin-GOP alliance has found its winning formula, be prepared for non-stop bullshit if the nominee is a woman. (For example, Kamala’s gun and Elizabeth’s Indian heritage would get no traction if they weren’t perceived as connecting to female foibles.) Normally the VP slot is much less important than the Big Job, but if the (nearly-octogenarian) Biden is the nominee and picks a woman, expect the liars to drone on and on and on with the message “Old Joe is practically on his death bed already. Look at who were stuck with when he croaks.” (ETA: Female VP is much less of a concern if the Pres. nominee is a younger man.) ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/42 "2019-04-30T06:32:33Z")
I’d put forth a Latina politician who is lesser known on a national stage but who has decent progressive credentials, Representative Linda Sánchez (D-CA). She’s a current member of the House Ways and Means Committee (a committee pushing for release of Trump tax records), former Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, previous ranking member on the House Ethics Committee, and daughter of Mexican immigrants. She is a lawyer by training and a former editor of the Chicano-Latino Law Review at UCLA. She has solid Democratic positions on the issues with some progressive tilt, a solid 0% rating from the National Right to Life Committee, a 100% rating from the NAACP, favors expunging first time drug convictions after probation is served, supported same sex marriage before Obama including calling out the injustice that immigration law did not then allow immigration sponsorship of same sex partners, and supports gun control. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/43 "2019-04-30T09:01:17Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Adaher, if you think that Abrams’ performance in interviews is comparable to Palin’s, well…our milage is varying. That’s because Democrats don’t get quizzed. Although she misses on the most basic question of all: whether she won the election or not. She could get away with saying, “I don’t know what the result would be without voter suppression”, but to say she won is nearly disqualifying, IMO, akin to Trump’s millions of illegals comment. > [@](#): > > I’m assuming that Harris would consider the VP slot a step down at this point in her career. But if she would take the job, sure, she’s a good option. Anyone running now will take the job. It clearly places them next in line for the next election, win or lose, barring the entry of a more exciting candidate, and such a candidate does not exist right now. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/44 "2019-04-30T10:28:03Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I can’t see that. I’m pretty sure that none of the pickup truck drivers here you voted for Trump didn’t vote for Obama. Nor can I see the local soccer moms who voted for Obama voting for the misogynist Trump. [Numbers from another thread.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21584727&postcount=323) These are not insignificant numbers. See them now? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/45 "2019-04-30T12:28:48Z")
I like Mayor Pete, but in terms of strategy, I don’t think he would add much to the ticket that Biden doesn’t already have. Biden’s an aging white male moderate from rust belt territory. Biden would probably immediately tilt PA in the Democrats’ direction just with his presence, and I think Trump won Michigan mainly because of very poor Dem turnout, which would probably not be the case this time around. According to my math, winning PA and MI would put Biden at or around 269. He would need to break Trump in WI, FL, or OH, which won’t be easy, but it’ll be easier if he can expand his base a little, which is why I think he’d probably do well either with a woman or a person of color – possibly a woman of color to check both boxes. But a woman of color who is perceived as having enough electability and political know-how to be respected on the national stage, which leads me to Kamala Harris. I’m sure there is a case to be made for others, but even with some of her baggage, I think she’d be a strong asset in terms of energizing voters that Hillary overlooked. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/46 "2019-04-30T12:36:19Z")
Missed the edit window: Others Biden could possibly consider are Corey Booker, Elizabeth Warren, and Julian Castro. Yes, I know I have written off Warren as a presidential candidate, but nobody can deny that she has a committed fan base and she can light a fire under some asses. I also think that as a veep she’d be in a different position. Trump would no doubt mock “Pocahontas” but it would look a little bit ‘off’ going after a vice presidential candidate rather than the guy standing in front of him. And I don’t see Mike Pence having any sort of charisma or personality that would enable him to take down Warren in a debate. I think Warren would straight up own his ass. Biden and Warren wouldn’t be my first choice but it could work because it would be asymmetrical warfare. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/47 "2019-04-30T12:46:10Z")
I’m curious: say you _wanted_ Trump to win, and say you got to tap anyone from the current Top Ten among the Democrats. Who, in that case, would you figure is the one most likely to torpedo anti-Trump hopes? ---
**Author:** ![SOJA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@SOJA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SOJA)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/48 "2019-04-30T12:58:56Z")
Probably Peter Buttigieg. IDR who exactly, but either Harris or Warren hate Sanders. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/49 "2019-04-30T13:17:06Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I like Mayor Pete, but in terms of strategy, I don’t think he would add much to the ticket that Biden doesn’t already have. Biden’s an aging white male moderate from rust belt territory. Biden would probably immediately tilt PA in the Democrats’ direction just with his presence, and I think Trump won Michigan mainly because of very poor Dem turnout, which would probably not be the case this time around. According to my math, winning PA and MI would put Biden at or around 269. He would need to break Trump in WI, FL, or OH, which won’t be easy … Yes to that Northern Path with WI much more likely than OH. Which maybe elevates Tammy Baldwin? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/50 "2019-04-30T13:44:26Z")
If Biden or another Dem wins, I don’t want it to be with a handful of electors; I want a comfortable multi-state victory with an EV count well into the 300s. I don’t want Trump to scream “rigged!” and then try to whip up his base into frenzy, believing that they truly won the election and got robbed. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/51 "2019-04-30T14:05:00Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > If Biden or another Dem wins, I don’t want it to be with a handful of electors; I want a comfortable multi-state victory with an EV count well into the 300s. I don’t want Trump to scream “rigged!” and then try to whip up his base into frenzy, believing that they truly won the election and got robbed. I believe Trump will call foul if he loses, whatever the number of votes. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/52 "2019-04-30T14:36:33Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > As a longtime fan of McCain, one reason I love Biden is because they have similar thought processes, with Biden being somewhat less impulsive, but still a lot more impulsive than your average politician. So a Sarah Palin-type candidate, one that brings more excitement than competence and causes voters to worry about if the old guy kicks it, is a very real possibility. And you suggested Stacy Abrams, which proves the point. Like Palin a good candidate on paper, but with no national profile, even less experience than Palin, and one who is already being a little thick in interviews. Plus, why would you bother with Abrams when you can just pick Kamala Harris? This is just astounding to me. Sarah Palin -type? Palin a good candidate? Why pick Abrams when there’s another black woman, they’re interchangeable, right? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/53 "2019-04-30T14:48:47Z")
How about Kasich? A reasonable republican. That may help swing a few votes away from Trump. I like Biden, and would vote for a rabid squirrel before Trump, but I do wish he was 10 years younger. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/54 "2019-04-30T14:55:00Z")
I think Amy Klobuchar would be a perfect choice for Biden. She’s tough and has some good moments fighting against Kavanaugh. The only problem is she suffers from the likability penalty for being a no-nonsense woman in dealing with her staff. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/55 "2019-04-30T15:03:16Z")
I’m guessing he would pick someone from a swing state that Trump won, to try to swing that state back, and a black person, to pump up the black vote and recreate as much as possible the Obama turnout. A younger VP in case he dies is a good idea, but Biden is a centrist. To the extent anyone cares about the ideology of the VP candidate, a very progressive VP might cause centrist voters to shy away. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/56 "2019-04-30T15:22:06Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I think Amy Klobuchar would be a perfect choice for Biden. She’s tough and has some good moments fighting against Kavanaugh. The only problem is she suffers from the likability penalty for being a no-nonsense woman in dealing with her staff. As much as I like her, this is not the ‘only problem’ she would bring. She’d do little to excite the more progressive democratic base in an election where the Dems need every possible democratic voter to be excited enough and inflamed enough, to be absolutely committed to vote. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/57 "2019-04-30T16:09:41Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > If Biden or another Dem wins, I don’t want it to be with a handful of electors; I want a comfortable multi-state victory with an EV count well into the 300s. I don’t want Trump to scream “rigged!” and then try to whip up his base into frenzy, believing that they truly won the election and got robbed. First assure the fair win, then worry about the margin. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/58 "2019-04-30T16:36:45Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > This is just astounding to me. Sarah Palin -type? Palin a good candidate? > > Why pick Abrams when there’s another black woman, they’re interchangeable, right? Is there something special about Abrams beyond her identity? Is there something remarkable about her career as a state legislator that makes her Presidential material? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/59 "2019-04-30T17:11:07Z")
The more I contemplate it, the more I like the idea of [Hilda Solis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_Solis) as Biden’s running mate. It probably is way out in left field and won’t happen, but she brings a lot to the table: -[Charismatic in front of a crowd.](https://twitter.com/hildasolis/status/823677251937923072) -Daughter of immigrants -Daughter of a union organizer -Experience at the Congressional level (former Rep), federal executive level (Obama’s Labor secretary), and local level (currently Los Angeles County supervisor). So she can claim insider experience, but also a bit of the outside-the-beltway mantle. -Not too young, not too old. (Will be 63 on election day) -Progressive (to engage the left): In addition to labor, she’s been a champion of the environment and immigration reform and was a member of the Progressive Caucus in Congress. -Latina (to me this is more important than picking an African-American or white running mate; Biden should do fine with both of those demographics, but Dems really need to focus on Latino turnout in 2020) -Very much a candidate that can speak to blue collar union voters, as labor has been at the center of her career in government, and both her parents were union members. So just thinking about those critical industrial midwestern voters who might otherwise have a problem with a progressive/Californian/woman/Latina, her focus on lunch-bucket issues and worker rights should play well. -Has never really been on GOP radar, so she doesn’t have years of baked-in oppo hovering over her. -From what I gather, her husband owns an auto repair shop in LA, and they’ve never gotten rich from her political career. They live in a modest home, so that would seem to pair well with “Amtrak Joe, the scrapper from Scranton.” -“Biden/Solis” sounds good together. It’s pretty outside-the-box, I know, but I would think it would be a solid ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173/60 "2019-04-30T17:13:40Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > As much as I like her, this is not the ‘only problem’ she would bring. She’d do little to excite the more progressive democratic base in an election where the Dems need every possible democratic voter to be excited enough and inflamed enough, to be absolutely committed to vote. Honestly, if you need a VP choice to get the Progressives to vote because “Get rid of Trump” isn’t enough for them - then the Dems have already lost 2020. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-biden-gets-the-democratic-nomination-who-would-be-the-vp-nominee/833173.md?page=4)