No matter what, Biden is going to be the subject of constant anti-Obama dog whistles. They’re just going to say “he was OBAMA’s VP, everybody…OBAMA…let that sink in.” All they need to do is say that exotic Muslim-sounding name and it conjures up all the evil Kenyan socialist connotations for all the assholes to wallow in. It’s going to happen anyway. The guy was Obama’s VP. He’s inextricably linked to the name Obama.
A hell of a lot of people, though, have very fond memories of Obama and the years that encompassed his administration. The far left gets all wound up about his drone strikes and other shit, but most people think he was a pretty good president and just a pretty good guy. Those people need to be mobilized to go vote.
There’s more to be gained than lost from name-dropping Obama, in other words. In my opinion.
I really, really doubt the former President would want even a plum Cabinet post. But I hope and expect he will be out there and working very hard for the Biden-Whoever ticket this fall.
Ex-president is the best job in the world. Why would he give that up to be a functionary in someone else’s administration? He will campaign for Biden but that’s it.
It sure is looking like Harris, but she’d be wasted at VP. Instead, Biden should announce a core team that will serve as ‘shadow ministers’ until they are sworn into his cabinet. Let Klobuchar be the VP, but also announce Harris as AG, Warren at Treasury, Duckworth at Defense, Booker at Commerce…hell, go crazy and ask Romney to be Sec. of State and Bernie to head Interior.
His wife made very good money on her memoir *Becoming *(which is worth a read BTW), and he’ll make a mint himself when his own book comes out in a year or so. I don’t think money would really be an issue for him in taking, or not taking, another Federal job.
These past two weeks make it clear that Klobuchar is dead in the water. The AG that went easy on George Floyd’s killer on past complaints is untouchable right now.
Harris or Demings would be far better choices.
As for announcing a Cabinet while running an office - that’s actually a legally murky thing to do. It may not rise to a violation of the law, but I’m sure Trump’s DOJ would investigate it. Not to mention, why would any of those Senators give up their jobs to Cabinet officials aside from State (and Romney for State is a no go - I can actually see John Kerry nominated for that gig)?
I’d be happy with Warren (or Abrams, but she may be off the list). I might be even happier with Demings, even if she’s a bit untested. What I’ve seen from her has impressed me, and her experience as a sheriff might be particularly relevant to the current moment.
It appears Rice, Harris and Warren are the short list. Of these three I think Rice is the best but I have a feeling it will be Harris who is OK I suppose. She was fairly mediocre in her campaign but she seems a safe pair of hands which is all that Biden needs.
I think a Washington outsider would be a better pick for VP. Mayor Lance-Bottom and Governor Lujan-Grisham don’t come with Washington baggage and would both be great picks from what I’ve read of their views.
The most important quality I am hoping for is that I can imagine liking them being president, given Biden’s age. I didn’t like Harris when I lived in CA and I don’t like her now. I can definitely see Warren being president and she’d be a good one too. Policy wonks make better presidents than they do campaigners. I think Biden needs to court progressives more than he does the black vote.
I don’t know much about Rice but what I hear is good.
The murkiness is whether it applies in this case. Promising someone already a support a cabinet position may or may not legally cross the line. IANAL.
However, it has been the tradition never to name one’s cabinet ahead of time because it looks bad and has bad historical precedent. The “Corrupt Bargain” of 1824 saw Henry Clay named as Secretary of State after his support secured John Quincy Adams’ win when the election went to the House of Representatives. Both men were attacked relentlessly after that, even though the nomination came after the fact.
I would absolutely not do it if I were Biden. It would look bad, could easily be made a major issue to be used against him, and provides absolutely nothing good in return. Nor is there anything to indicate that people vote for President on the basis of their supposed cabinets. Worse, instead of having just Biden to attack, it gives the opposition 20 people to take apart and use as weapons against Biden and dilutes his time as the face of the campaign for hundreds of hours discussing other people.
The only question about naming a cabinet ahead of time is whether it’s merely exceptionally stupid or lose-the-election level stupid.
Just a curious historical fact on Democratic VP choices: Since 1940, leaving aside renominations of a president and vice president, every Democratic convention has picked a U.S. senator for the VP slot. I can’t believe people still think he’s picking Abrams . Pick also might be governor or US house member. For a long time there were no female governors and now there are plenty to choose from including ex governors.