It is now clear. Joe Biden is the Democratic presidential nominee. But make no mistake, as we discussed last week, polls are indicating he has an enormous opportunity of becoming our next President. National polls give him, on average, a 7 point lead. Even polls in Florida show that, amongst registered voters, he leads with 6 points over Trump. This is very relevant because although Biden can win the electoral college without FL, Trump has no path to reelection without the southern state.
Now, the focus shifted to who will be Joe Biden’s running mate. The presidential candidate and former Vice President himself committed to nominating a woman as a candidate for vice president in these elections. The following paragraphs speculate who Biden could choose for this critical position.
A group of analysts and activists point to US Senator Kamala Harris of California. Brilliant, charismatic, with a piercing oratory and a fierce speech against Trump. She also ran in the Democratic primaries but retired early. Previous to becoming senator, Harris served as the California attorney general. She excelled in that position and developed a close friendship with fellow Attorney General Beau Biden, the late son of the former Vice President, who served in Delaware and was one of the emerging stars in the Party. Furthermore, Kamala Harris is also an African American and the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, which would raise the issue of immigrant social inclusion and acknowledge the immense support Biden received from the African American community.
Another woman, also African American, in a position to be considered for this nomination is Stacey Abrams. She is a former candidate for governor of Georgia, who literally got the election snatched from her due to the abuse of power and the suppression of voters by the then Secretary of State and now Governor, Brian Kemp. Kemp was practically an electoral arbitrator and candidate in a system that has emblematized the political crisis that exists in the United States.
However, it is also important to think about electoral geography. Biden, who is polling favorably in the American Midwest (Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio), could secure that region, which would make him victorious in the Electoral College system by nominating US Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Klobuchar is also a former candidate in the Democratic primary, who notably offered Biden fundamental support to help him consolidate his preeminence in the primary. There is also talk of young and charismatic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
On the other hand, Hispanic activist groups and leaders have deservedly suggested US Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto of Nevada for the position. She is the descendant of Mexican and Italian immigrants, has a good relationship with Biden, and impeccable credentials as attorney general and now as a senator. Cortez-Masto would undoubtedly have a mobilizing effect on the Latino electorate, also crucial in this election.
Finally, there is US Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Choosing her would be a way to incorporate the Party’s more progressive tendencies, which brings young people together in a movement that she and Senator Sanders have capitalized on.
In our opinion, only one thing is evident in this vice-presidential riddle. While Biden was Obama’s vice president, they developed a relationship of absolute loyalty and trust (the “bromance” or “brotherly love”). Biden will undoubtedly want to replicate that relationship during his presidency to delegate, as Obama did with him, the development of widespread issues in his presidential agenda. Such an agenda also calls for and is the expression of a broad coalition that unites the diverse electoral demographics of the United States: independents, moderates (as well as Republicans who do not sympathize with Trump), and progressives (including those with a more pragmatic approach).