As rumors swirl of former Vice President Joe Biden battling a breakdown of mental acuity, the focus on his pick for vice president becomes a much more critical consideration. The number two position usually is selected to balance the ticket: progressive candidate Barack Obama picked the old guard white guy. Personable with a hint of frat boy, candidate Bill Clinton's choice was a mild-mannered block of wood.
But in 2020, the candidate for the Biden ticket must be appealing to the Democratic base more so than Joe Biden – just in case the 77-year-old proves not up to the task come the eleventh hour.
Biden's Bevy of Broads
Liberty Nation's managing editor and on-site bookie, Mark Angelides recently ran the numbers on the slate of potentials – all women. The current thought is that the Democrats are going to get their woman president one way or another:
"Interestingly, Kamala Harris has once again entered the lists. She is a long way from the top spot, but this could suggest bettors think that Biden will be crowned in Milwaukee with Harris as his running mate, and then have to drop out before the actual election."
Somehow, it feels as if Biden secretly uses the term, "bevy of broads" repeatedly. The top three contenders tell the tale: Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) sitting pretty at 7/4, Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) following with 4/1 odds, and progressive Massachusetts maven Elizabeth Warren with an impressive 9/2 favor. Who will catch the eye of Mr. Biden?
Segregation? What Segregation?
Senator Harris is young, energetic, and throughout her failed campaign for president, remembered what office she was seeking, and called the former vice president a racist in so many words for his past voting. They have since kissed and made up, heaping praise upon one another. Harris is now an "intelligent" woman and Biden, the man "who reflects the decency and dignity of the American people." Biden also reflects the folks who rant about leg hair – and sniff a lot of hair.
If Harris has the temperament to withstand the pawing attention on the campaign trail, that might make her the right gal to not go off half-cocked on the nuclear button.
Biden is not ruling out the possibility: "I talked to her yesterday. She's solid. She can be president someday herself. She can be vice president. She could go on to be a Supreme Court justice. She could be attorney general. I mean, she has enormous capability."
Amy Who?
Klobuchar is not exciting. Klobuchar is a slow and steady wins the race kind of gal who may be the ticket to temper Biden's off the wall ramblings. She at least makes a modicum of sense. But Liberty Nation's Leesa K. Donner said it best: "Klobuchar fulfills a couple of roles in terms of identity politics. She is younger than Biden and a woman from Middle America to boot. When you tie it up in a neat bow, the senator may be a good fit for Biden. That's a reasoned argument, but in these days of quirky politics, rationality may not mean a damn thing."
In the political horse race, as at Kentucky Downs, a thoroughbred is the ticket – fast and flashy – while the trail horse plods along to keep everyone safe and sound. A Biden/Klobuchar union is a two-trail horse amble towards November.
About That DNA Test
Senator Warren is a firebrand. She is a big talker, not unlike President Donald Trump, and would make a horrible choice for Biden's number two. Past faulty DNA aside, she is a bit matronly. Attempts at being folksy have tremendously backfired and alienated a good bit of those lucky Americans who will be swinging the electoral votes come fall. It would be a risky move for Biden to select an older woman with a bit of baggage that Republicans would parade about like severed heads on pikes.
Facing Facts
Mr. Biden sorely lacks verbal communication skills. He has body language down pat, but he must be able to relay a message to American voters. Currently, no one understands half of what he’s saying. Harris, Klobuchar, and Warren have the political chops, but all lack the ability to fill in the gaps and make the presidential ticket whole. They are merely polarizing. And perhaps that is where our dark horse appears in the race.
Could Biden attempt to resurrect his glory days by adding Michelle Obama? According to our local bookie, the odds are 8/1 and stranger things have happened in the high stakes game of politics.
~
Read more from Sarah Cowgill.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
