These aren’t in conflict. And “just try to win” or “just pick the best candidate” means that 99% of the time it will just happen to be a white man. The only times things like this change is when purposeful and specific decisions are made.
Sarah Palin has experience as a running mate 
This is a speculation thread. Who do you think would a good vice presidential running mate for any of the likely candidates?
If the question is who I think will be the VP nominee, here’s my predictions.
Trump will stick with Pence.
Biden will probably pick Klobuchar.
Sanders, assuming he gets to that point or if he pulls a Ted Cruz, will probably go with Gabbard.
I believe that Nikki Haley would be a viable replacement for Pence, and will bring in women voters. Evangelicals are unlikely to turn away from republicans for a party going further left.
For Biden, I would assume he will pick a woman or man of color…or Beto. And if you remember, 2016n Bernie had Tulsi, and she is still around. That will be his pick if he gets the nomination, and if he does not I would be looking for an Independent ticket with big names on it.
Agreed about Nikki Haley for Trump, but that requires him to dump Pence, and that would be admitting to a mistake, so it’s not likely. Then again, if Pence fucks up the corona virus response enough…Trump is nothing if unpredictable.
On the Dem side, I’m going to jump ahead and guess that Biden is the nominee. While I’d love to see him pair with Warren, I agree that two septuagenarians together is not a good idea. But Biden should pick a woman, I’m just not sure who. I think Klobuchar is angling for the role, but I’m not a fan.
Any thoughts on New Mexico Governor Michelle Grisham? She’s Latino, but I don’t know much else about her. (I note that, when googling her name, I saw that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is “trending”; she might be the way to bet here).
What does Gabbard offer to the ticket?
I like Abrams. Also thought of Harris, but the damned Senate is so important, I’d hesitate to remove any sitting candidates - tho I imagine a Dem replacement in Calif would be a safe bet.
I SO want to see more youth and diversity in national offices. If we get a Dem pres, I hope they work hard at advancing the younger members of the party through appointments.
The frightened part of me fears if too many misogynists/racists would use a woman - especially of color - as an excuse to vote orange. I hate even thinking that, but I don’t trust enough of my fellow citizens.
The Bernie bros hate Feinstein and she wouldn’t bring much to the ticket.
Ferraro was completely a token and set back women. But, Mondale winning an extra state or two wouldn’t have mattered. Now, if we’d picked Gary Hart…
First is having a VP who is appropriate for the job - I’d look for early sixties tops, and some significant experience resume of their own, not too far off from the presidential candidate ideologically. That is a must.
Second is helping win.
That could be helping deliver 2 or 3% in the VP’s home state if it is a potentially critical in the balance state, or one you want to reach for and at least make them work hard to defend.
That could be by signaling to an important demographic (or intersectionally, demographics), either to increase their turnout (Black, women, Hispanic, the more progressive wing so long as still not too far from Biden ideologically), or conversely to go on offense in a strong demographic for Trump decreasing the margin in that group and maybe decreasing their excitement (rural voters for example).
That could be by their skill as a campaigner in the role, such as being able to be the potent attack dog, leaving the top of the ticket to emphasize the more hope and optimism messaging.
Third is grooming someone to run after, be it in eight or four years.
Not sure Stacy Abrams’ stint as minority leader of a state General Assembly and a losing governor’s bid is enough to meet item one. But she might help make Georgia competitive and give Doug Jones a chance at keeping the seat.
Both Klobuchar and Baldwin could help with some key states, and not only their own MN and WI respectively. They’d each also help signal the importance of women and rural voters in general. Baldwin is deep in rural expertise and moreover is a progressive who is mainstream enough to be compatible with Biden and signals to those voters that they are important too. Both risk Senate seats though.
Harris bring no state or region with her but intersectionally signals to woman and Black voters, while also being just a bit more progessive than Biden. She also be the best in the attack dog role … yes she could prosecute the case against Trump well, and would destroy Pence in any debate.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan is good on paper but her response to the state of the union was a failed audition. Horrible.
Castro no.
Corey Booker? Deval Patrick? They’d both be fine. But I don’t think they deliver much extra turnout nor are great as VP campaigners.
Warren too old for this cycle, not quite compatible enough, and needed in the Senate.
Another rural Midwestern progressive, Sherrod Brown, also needed in the Senate, but could help put Ohio in play.
And last boring white guy but qualified and helps bring the possibly needed two to three percent to his home state of Colorado - Michael Bennet.
I’d go with Harris as my first choice, Baldwin number two, Stacy Abrams three, and Michael Bennet four.
I am going on record to say that Feinstein will never be the choice. She doesn’t add anything, she doesn’t help in any swing states and the truth is that she’s 86! She would be over 90 at the end of one term.
I would pay money to see Pete Buttigieg debate Mike Pence.
I don’t care who Trump picks. I will say I doubt Haley would accept it if asked. Why should she tarnish any future opportunities she may have?
If Biden, I’m fairly sure it will be Klobuchar. As has already been pointed out, she helps him with the industrial mid-west. She’s a decent campaigner, an experienced senator, ticks the ‘woman’ box and is young enough to provide relief over concerns about Biden’s age. During the debates, I noticed there were 2 people who never attacked Biden and in fact gave him an assist or two: Buttegieg and Klobuchar. Biden seems immensely comfortable with both of them, but Klobuchar has actual relationships with members of the Senate. He needs and wants her help in those industrial upper midwest states. Joe has got the south locked up. Who are the coasts going to vote for? Trump?
Biden mentioned Harris early on as a potential running mate, but she rather huffily said she was only interested in the top job. She attacked him during the first debate (that’s what sank her, IMO). She later mentioned she’d be open to the VP position after all. But she’d bring little to the ticket. Besides, she’s the perfect choice for Attorney General. Biden will put her there, I think, if she wants it. Her senate seat is in safe hands with Gavin Newsom appointing the interim replacement.
If it’s Bernie, I can see him offering the VP position to someone equally progressive and a woman if possible. Not Warren. Too old and too independent. No president wants a VP who will outshine him in the job. So… Ayanna Pressley? She’s young and ticks the ‘woman of color’ box. Other than Pressley, I have no clue. If he asked Stacey Abrams, I doubt she’d accept. She wants her future to be working from within the party, not against it.
Agreed, that would be epic. 
That won’t happen if Bernie’s the candidate, because those two loathe each other.
HOWEVER
You’re right. I’d pay even more money to see the look on Mr. Mother’s face as he hands the reins over to Mayor Pete. His expression when he swore in Kirsten Synema was epic; she’s openly bisexual and was made up to look like Marilyn Monroe, and wore a minidress and thigh-high boots. 
At least one-seventh of her home territory, American Samoa! And a hotline to Putin.
I sense a Fantasy League matchup in the works. But would either pull an Eastwood and debate an empty chair? Put a skirt on the chair and Pence will cancel.
Selecting a woman because she is a woman has been disastrous last two times it was done.
Warren is the obvious qualified candidate but she is over 70
Does the US system not produce charismatic female leaders. Like Thatcher or Merkel. Or Indira Gandhi or Benezir Bhutto?
Based on my Facebook feed today, and the vibe from all the women in my life, *not *picking a woman as a running mate would be a fucking disaster in the fall. It’s not like the nominee has to go out and say “I will be picking a woman because that is what I have to do.” But just like nominees in the past picked a running mate based on geography or experience, yes, this year gender and race need to balance the ticket. It’s not tokenism, it’s just smart politics.
Also based on my Facebook feed today, and the vibe from a lot of people in my life, Warren dropping out has been the most painful drop-out of the cycle.
On Amy Klobuchar: I seriously don’t know anyone here in Michigan, or in Ohio or Illinois, who gave two rips about her, male or female. She was terrible. Why are there so many people on this board who think she has this amazing future in presidential politics? Is she what people outside the Midwest think people in the Midwest want? She’s not. Her poll numbers sucked from start to finish, her debate performances ranged from mockable to forgettable, and her delegate count? People were *floored *when she got six in New Hampshire. No one shed a tear when she dropped out. In fact, the most excitement her campaign generated was when she dropped out and endorsed Biden.
Warren’s exit, on the other hand, has ignited a bonfire of deep, deep sadness, from columnists and network talking heads to my mother and every union organizer I know.
But yes, let’s get Klobuchar on the ticket. Never mind that she makes Tim Kaine look like Winston Churchill. She’s from the Midwest so people there must love her!
On the contrary, for Biden, his *strength *is the industrial Midwest. We don’t need someone like Baldwin or Klobuchar or Whitmer to help him out here. We need someone to bring in Latinos or progressives or both. Someone who can maybe tap into the sunbelt or excite the college-educated suburban women who are mourning the loss of Warren today.
All of this, of course, is jmho, and largely based on shit that I’ve read, heard and seen today from my couch in Michigan and around my life for the past several months. YMMV.
I assume Pence will have to have his wife accompany him onstage.
Howsabout a female general (or equivalent)? By definition, if you’re a general, you have to be politically savvy.
From a marketing perspective:
- Easiest path to breaking the highest glass ceiling as Biden or Bernie have a high chance of dying in office
- Get the military fully on board. (It is my impression that at least the military leadership hates Trump for calling into question alliances, and pardoning war criminals)
IMHO, a female general will bring a lot more to the ticket than any of the above alternatives.