# Should Biden select a different VP in the next Election? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 9, 2023, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341 "2023-12-09T23:54:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/163 "2023-12-19T00:01:18Z")
Split, here you say that Trump won’t be indicted. Where do you get this kind of confidence to make such predictions? Have you learned anything from their failure to come true? > [@Jan 6 Hearings Follow-Along & Commentary Thread (Starts Jun 9, 2022)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jan-6-hearings-follow-along-commentary-thread-starts-jun-9-2022/965940/223): > > Yes, the US was over the moment Trump was elected, as I said back then there is no coming back from this. I’ll go as far to say that the civil war already started when MAGA tried to install Trump as dictator. The hearings now are just wishful thinking, I believe the people conducting them think we can actually go back. Trump won’t be indicted but I agree that MAGA is going to escalate, they think they will win. I think they don’t truly understand what it will be like, and it won’t go they way … ---
**Author:** ![split\_p\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@split\_p\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/split_p_j)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/164 "2023-12-19T00:01:33Z")
So keeping with the thread, Biden should pick a new VP. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/165 "2023-12-19T00:02:24Z")
> [@split\_p\_j](#): > > And I can’t point to any poll that directly says black people aren’t voting for Biden because of immigration policy. No need to. I don’t see why it would be a black-white thing. Trump is, above all, a nativist. That’s his big issue. Polls that ask who is trusted most regarding the border show the GOP is ahead: > **[Poll: Republicans have advantages on immigration, crime and the economy](https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/first-read/poll-republicans-advantages-immigration-crime-economy-rcna117054)** > > Democrats, meanwhile, have the edge on abortion and health care, according to the new NBC News poll. [Biden is already on the right edge of opinion on immigration within his party.](https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/politics/biden-allies-immigration-measures/index.html) I don’t see how much more in that direction he can go. The administration has to stand for something. If Joe appears to be taking Trumpian populist positions, swing voters will figure he’s become a big fake and they thus should go with the real thing, Trump. There actually are [voters who care more about character than issues](https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2007/03/11/voters-care-more-about-character-than-issues/27703757007/). That’s a plus for the Democratic ticket. Some of these voters will desert Biden if he appears to be flip-flopping. ---
**Author:** ![split\_p\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@split\_p\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/split_p_j)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/166 "2023-12-19T00:03:55Z")
I was wrong on him being indicted and I’m still kind of shocked he was, but right on maga so a wash. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/167 "2023-12-19T00:05:22Z")
What about MAGA? If you’re taking credit for predicting that nutty people will continue to do nutty things, then congrats, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![split\_p\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@split\_p\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/split_p_j)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/168 "2023-12-19T00:15:19Z")
Younger black people want reparations. They see the government as catering to the asylum seekers, as unlimited money for them but nothing for people whose family lines go back to the beginning of the U.S. and further. I personally think it’s a non-starter, and think they get that but it’s still seen as nothing being done for black issues. So why vote for the dems if they are going to help immigrants but not you. Or more simply the black vote is no longer free. They want to see something for it. ---
**Author:** ![split\_p\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@split\_p\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/split_p_j)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/169 "2023-12-19T00:17:39Z")
I was wrong on the last election, what more do you want. Trump is still around and still a huge force now so what does it matter that I was wrong? I was actually right overall, the country was over when he was elected… ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/170 "2023-12-19T00:18:16Z")
If the country is over, who cares what VP Biden picks? Who cares about anything political, in that case? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/171 "2023-12-19T00:21:23Z")
> [@split\_p\_j](#): > > Or more simply the black vote is no longer free. They want to see something for it. I get it. And they are right. They should expect more. Thing is, Trump/republicans are anathema towards anyone not white. It’d be one thing if republicans where neutral towards people of color but they aren’t. They are very actively, overtly, hostile. Why any person of color would get on-board with conservatives is beyond me. Same for gay people. The only reason I see is money…they think republicans will lower their taxes. ---
**Author:** ![split\_p\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@split\_p\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/split_p_j)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/172 "2023-12-19T00:22:31Z")
Well I don’t think it matters anymore, but I’m old. I’m hoping for maybe 20 more years at 52 now. I think a Biden win push the total collapse back. So I want Biden to win, but he should get rid of Harris if he wants the young black vote, which he needs to win. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/173 "2023-12-19T00:22:45Z")
> [@split\_p\_j](#): > > A lot of those voters have now passed, In three years? > [@split\_p\_j](#): > > Harris is a liability as she is seen as a part of the establishment enforcer class, and not fully black American, as in descended from slaves. They see her as enforcing white supremacy. I doubt this. ---
**Author:** ![split\_p\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@split\_p\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/split_p_j)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/174 "2023-12-19T00:24:35Z")
Boomers, yes. My own father, born 1947, died in this timeframe. So yes the boomers are done, their time is up. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/175 "2023-12-19T00:24:48Z")
I’ll treat this wild guess the same as any other wild guess from a random internet stranger. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/176 "2023-12-19T00:25:18Z")
> [@split\_p\_j](#): > > They see her as enforcing white supremacy. Harris enforcing white supremacy? One must assume they haven’t been paying attention to the all the, overtly, racist things the Republicans stand in favor of. Some people are just too stupid to be _allowed_ to vote. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/177 "2023-12-19T00:27:35Z")
[Evaluating the impact of vice presidential selection on voter choice](https://www.jstor.org/stable/23044822) My link’s conventional political science wisdom is almost surely true: VP choice barely matters. As my link documents, it barely even mattered with the biggest VP selection mistake, Sarah Palin. I’ve argued for months that Biden is playing catch-up, but that doesn’t mean he should do things that will probably make it worse. Biden/Harris has the advantage on personal decency, and they should not throw that away. Dropping Harris, for political advantage, would seem ungenerous. P.S. The paywall for my link above can be gotten past by registering as an “independent researcher.” Or read this article summary: > **[Evaluating the impact of vice presidential selection on voter choice - The...](https://journalistsresource.org/politics-and-government/evaluating-impact-vice-presidential-selection-voter-choice/)** > > 2010 study from the University of California, Irvine, on the average effect a vice presidential candidate has on the electorate. ---
**Author:** ![split\_p\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@split\_p\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/split_p_j)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/178 "2023-12-19T00:28:23Z")
Ok that’s fine, buts its not me saying this look at the polls. I cited an USA poll on the black vote, its unquestionably down. If you want to disregard that then fine. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/179 "2023-12-19T00:28:43Z")
> [@split\_p\_j](#): > > Harris is a liability as she is seen as a part of the establishment enforcer class, and not fully black American, as in descended from slaves. Ah, yes. That must be why Obama lost by such a huge margin in '08. ---
**Author:** ![split\_p\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e19b73/32.png) [@split\_p\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/split_p_j)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/180 "2023-12-19T00:30:05Z")
It’s from her time as DA in LA, she aggressively prosecuted black people. It’s seen has her propping up the racist establishment, aka an enforcer from the oppressed race or an uncle tom. But even worse for her since she is not totally black American. It’s really complex and I get you want to dumb it down here, but she is the worst VP for this changing electorate. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/181 "2023-12-19T00:36:03Z")
I think it is insane for minorities of any sort to vote for Trump. He is hostile towards them. In the last few days Trump has expressed this. Why would anyone vote for the guy who despises them? What have democrats done that you think is worse to drive voters to Trump? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2023, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341/182 "2023-12-19T00:40:59Z")
I don’t think polls this early tell us anything. They didn’t in 12, 16, or 20. The campaign hasn’t even started. No one is paying attention. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-biden-select-a-different-vp-in-the-next-election/994341.md?page=10)