The murder of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer at the end of last month had occurred drastically changed the calculations for former Vice-President Joe Biden and his vice-president’s selection team about who he would choose to share tickets with this fall.
While Biden explained a few months ago that he would choose a woman, now there seems to be a significant surge of support for him to choose a black woman – making history (there have never been black women on one of the national ticket parties) while also sending messages that it was very clear to the black community that he not only understood their imports for nomination but also believed they needed a big vote in the White House.
(Biden’s “you’re not black” mistake, though not as important as national protests over police brutality, also played a role in this calculation.)
With that in mind, I have made a big change in the vice president’s ranking this week. The most likely choice is now all African American women. And Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, who I rank as the woman with the second biggest possibility of choice, took the main turnaround this week amid questions about her record as prosecuting attorney in Minnesota before being elected to the Senate in 2016.
This ranking changes every week, so if your favorite isn’t ranked where he should be – or isn’t even on the list – there’s always next week. By the way, here it is ranking last week. A warning is needed Michelle Obama: The former first lady is not on this list because she has never shown an interest in becoming a politician. If he did, he would immediately jump to the top of this rank.
10. Gina Raimondo: If you believe a) that Biden will have one self-identifying moderator in his final VP group and b) Klobuchar and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who suffers
other self-inflicted injuries this week, moving in the wrong direction on this list, then the governor of Rhode Island might fill that niche. (I have long believed Biden will have a moderate in his three finals; I’m not sure I think about that anymore.) Raimondo who focused on policy has received praise from
likes conservative columnist George Will, and has shown a willingness to make difficult choices in the office.
(Previous rank: Not ranked)
9. Amy Klobuchar: The problem of Minnesota senatorial records during his time in the early 2000s as the main prosecutor in Hennepin County (Minneapolis) had permeated the slow boils during VP speculation. But the death of George Floyd has turned that record, which many black leaders consider too pro-police, to be the main problem.
And it is very difficult to see how Biden took such a risk in choosing Klobuchar given the current atmosphere within the Democratic Party. (Previous rank: 2)
8. Tammy Duckworth: While the Illinois senator doesn’t get as many rumors as some of the names on this list, his profile stands for one of them: A helicopter pilot in Iraq, he lost both legs and used one hand when he was shot down. He was later elected to the US Council and Senate from Illinois. He also made his voice heard in the days since Floyd was killed in Minneapolis: “George Floyd’s death was unnecessary and heartbreaking,” he wrote in an op-CNN on Monday. “It was a tragedy – but the terrible thing was, it was not an anomaly.” (Previous rank: Not ranked)
7. Stacey Abrams: In a
op-ed published in The New York Times on Thursday (no, no
that one), Abrams believes that the best way to react to Floyd’s death is for people of color to register to vote and then do it in November.
“Voting is the first step in a long and complicated, boring but vital process,” wrote the former minority leader of the Georgia State Council. Words of wisdom – and words that indicate he is ready to lead on important import issues for all minority communities. (Previous rank: 9)
6. Susan Rice: If Biden wants to select women with the most direct experience of foreign policy and national security issues, there is no question that Rice is at the top of the list – serving as national security adviser and US ambassador to the United Nations. during the Obama administration. But he also carries luggage – especially
his remarks after the Benghazi, Libya attack, and he’s January 20, 2017, email at Michael Flynn.
(Previous rank: 7)
5. Michelle Lujan Grisham: Gone in the middle of a flood of news over the past week is the fact that Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto withdrew from VP consideration. The move made Lujan Grisham, governor of New Mexico, the highest ranked Latina in the VP mix.
(Other names like Texas Reps. Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia still seem like something difficult to me.) Lujan Grisham has also been
increasing his criticism of Trump and his response to Floyd’s death.
(Previous rank: 8)4. Elizabeth Warren: As I said above, I think that very it’s likely Biden chose a black woman to be his partner. If not, the Massachusetts senator may have the best chance, because he is loved by liberals and his choice is seen as an effort to unite the Democratic Party. (Previous rank: 3)
3. Val Demings: Even before Floyd’s death and the ongoing echo from him, this Florida House member received a warm reception about his potential as a potential mate for Biden. But now consider what Demings will do for the ticket: A former black police chief from the southern big city (Orlando) who knows that
issues in the law enforcement community vis a vis intimate police brutality. (Previous ranking of 5)
2. Subordinate Keisha Lance: Lance Bottoms’ speech last Friday – amid strong protests in Atlanta – is moment. He empathizes. Difficult. And very human. I already had the mayor of Atlanta on my list almost from the beginning of the VP process but I was never sure he would go to the top level. Wow, I’m wrong. (Previous rank: 6)
1. Kamala Harris: For everything that has changed on this week’s list, the California senator’s position has not been determined. If anything, Harris seems more likely to be a choice now because he, at age 55, is a younger generation than Biden but also has a lot of experience – as California attorney general and senator – that we know about Biden’s values. (Previous ranking: 1)
