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StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 08:32 AM Jun 2020

Biden doesn't need to choose a VP who primarily appeals to the same voters he does

I'm puzzled and a little frustrated by those who keep insisting that picking a woman of color in general or Kamala Harris in particular is a bad idea because she won't appeal to voters in the Midwest.

First of all, that's just not true - and would only apply if the only people in the Midwest were white working class voters. But that's not the case. Those states are full of people to whom Harris would appeal, many of whom sat out the last election and aren't too terribly excited about Biden, but would crawl over broken glass to vote for a ticket with her on it. And those are likely the voters that will make the difference in this election.

So, there's that.

Moreover, the electorate is not limited to the Midwest. The same applies across the country. It would be foolish for Biden to select a candidate who appeals only to the same voters who love him. She's already got them - or he will be able to pull them in during the campaign. He needs someone who will capture the hearts and attention of other people and who will inspire them to come out and vote for the ticket. Kamala Harris and every other black female being talked about would do just that.

On President Kennedy's last campaign trip, in Dallas, an aide was said to have told Jackie, "Be sure to wave only to the people on the left side of the car. If you and the President both wave to the same person, that's a waste."

Biden needs a running mate who will wave to the people he can't wave at so they can reach a much larger audience of voters.

49 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Biden doesn't need to choose a VP who primarily appeals to the same voters he does (Original Post) StarfishSaver Jun 2020 OP
# 1 priority - can she step right into the job if needed Freddie Jun 2020 #1
No Priority #1 is who can best help the ticket win Trumpocalypse Jun 2020 #46
K&R. WhiskeyGrinder Jun 2020 #2
"aren't too terribly excited about Biden, but would crawl over broken glass to vote for..." brooklynite Jun 2020 #3
The same ones who were committed to voting for Hillary but then didn't come out on Election Day StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #7
And how does Harris change that equation? brooklynite Jun 2020 #20
You don't know? StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #29
Please enlighten me... brooklynite Jun 2020 #31
I never said Harris has anything that other black women don't StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #34
The base of the democratic party is black women. PunkinPi Jun 2020 #37
You don't get it StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #40
Sadly, I do. PunkinPi Jun 2020 #41
Strange how AA women (or men) didn't need an AA candidate during the Primary... brooklynite Jun 2020 #44
The moment has changed since the primaries, look around. nt PunkinPi Jun 2020 #45
Black women and men don't "need" a black candidate StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #48
If he picks a white woman and loses... Johnny2X2X Jun 2020 #4
True StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #9
The most spot on post I've seen in a while. The BLM movement has mobilized hundreds... brush Jun 2020 #10
Also, please don't think Harris can't attract republicans. PunkinPi Jun 2020 #5
Post removed Post removed Jun 2020 #6
Oh for fucks sake jcgoldie Jun 2020 #8
I think you may have stumbled into the wrong site. StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #11
Welcome to DU - enjoy your visit. lagomorph777 Jun 2020 #13
Harris might be a bit too much like Biden too. lagomorph777 Jun 2020 #12
Who do you have in mind? StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #14
Keisha Lance Bottoms or Ayana Pressley? lagomorph777 Jun 2020 #22
That's interesting StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #28
Kamala has star power! smirkymonkey Jun 2020 #35
Of course I'm familiar with her. :-) Maybe I'm avoiding saying... lagomorph777 Jun 2020 #39
Harris has the 2nd most progressive voting record in the senate. PunkinPi Jun 2020 #30
I need to look a bit more closely I guess. lagomorph777 Jun 2020 #32
I'll help you start on that journey... :) PunkinPi Jun 2020 #33
Nice! This'll keep me busy today. lagomorph777 Jun 2020 #36
Extremely interesting. The people who get on TV the most, are the ones with "F" ratings. lagomorph777 Jun 2020 #42
I'm in the Midwest, and I know she would have a lot of appeal here. MoonRiver Jun 2020 #15
Exactly StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #18
Agreed. Biden already has that box checked.... marmar Jun 2020 #16
Do no harm. nsd Jun 2020 #17
"I doubt there are any voters who are so enthusiastic about her they would crawl over broken glass" StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #24
Excellent analysis mcar Jun 2020 #19
Clinton and Gore appealed to the same voters. They did just fine. tinrobot Jun 2020 #21
That was 30 years and several lifetimes ago StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #26
And also, these monolithic descriptions of the "Midwest" are tiresome.... marmar Jun 2020 #23
Exactly StarfishSaver Jun 2020 #27
It doesn't help that the media finds people in the little diner in the smallest town in the least Tech Jun 2020 #43
I agree picking a VP is political jcgoldie Jun 2020 #25
Harris can help deliver voters across the board. honest.abe Jun 2020 #38
We need to turnout the African American vote and hold suburban women voters... Harris does that. nt Blasphemer Jun 2020 #47
There Are A Few Good Choices colsohlibgal Jun 2020 #49
 

Trumpocalypse

(6,143 posts)
46. No Priority #1 is who can best help the ticket win
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 11:01 AM
Jun 2020

Because if they don't win everything else is irrelevant.

brooklynite

(93,851 posts)
3. "aren't too terribly excited about Biden, but would crawl over broken glass to vote for..."
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 08:39 AM
Jun 2020

Which voters do you imagine aren't excited about Biden but passionate about Harris....and who aren't already committed to voting Democratic?

brooklynite

(93,851 posts)
31. Please enlighten me...
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:35 AM
Jun 2020

...in the current environment, do you imagine that African-Americans, women, immigrants, etc. need "inspiration" to come out and vote?

And what does Harris have that Demmings, Abrams, Rice, etc. don't?

 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
34. I never said Harris has anything that other black women don't
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:41 AM
Jun 2020

As for your other question, I'll let you work through it yourself.

PunkinPi

(4,870 posts)
37. The base of the democratic party is black women.
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:47 AM
Jun 2020

1/3 of black voters didn't come out in enough numbers for Hillary in 2016 (as they had for Obama). We are in a moment where representation at the highest levels of government is imperative.

 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
40. You don't get it
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:51 AM
Jun 2020

White working class voters must be catered to otherwise they won't vote for Biden

But black people are just supposed to vote for the Democrat and don't need to be appealed to ...

Got it?

Johnny2X2X

(18,744 posts)
4. If he picks a white woman and loses...
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 08:40 AM
Jun 2020

If he picks a white woman and loses he'll be forever known as the candidate who chose not to capitalize on the biggest and most energetic social movement (BLM) in generations. People can whine about Identity Politics all they want, Harris is supremely qualified and a slam dunk pick. And this is coming from a massive Elizabeth Warren fan, Warren was my first choice for President.

 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
9. True
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:10 AM
Jun 2020

And people need to stop pretending that picking white people is also not identity politics.

Obama picked Biden partly because he was a white guy who appealed to the white working class who weren't completely comfortable with the black guy at the top of the ticket.

But too many people see white as the norm, so they don't think anything of it when white person is chosen because they're "a better fit."

brush

(53,469 posts)
10. The most spot on post I've seen in a while. The BLM movement has mobilized hundreds...
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:12 AM
Jun 2020

of thousands of young potential voters of all races who want racial equality as well as police refunding. A black woman on the Dem ticket is just the ticket. If we go with an all-white ticket and miss this opportunity it would be so incredibly tone deaf we'd almost deserve to lose.

PunkinPi

(4,870 posts)
5. Also, please don't think Harris can't attract republicans.
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 08:44 AM
Jun 2020

(not directed at you Starfish)



Did someone say “Kamala can’t attract Republicans”?

Response to StarfishSaver (Original post)

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
22. Keisha Lance Bottoms or Ayana Pressley?
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:21 AM
Jun 2020

Don't get me wrong, Kamala would be fine with me. But I think we need a bit of star power.

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
35. Kamala has star power!
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:47 AM
Jun 2020

Are you not familiar with her? She is the most charismatic person on the list.

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
39. Of course I'm familiar with her. :-) Maybe I'm avoiding saying...
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:49 AM
Jun 2020

"appeal to young voters." I hate to be ageist. But we need to bring in some of the kids who are so riled up right now.

PunkinPi

(4,870 posts)
30. Harris has the 2nd most progressive voting record in the senate.
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:32 AM
Jun 2020

Higher than both Sanders and Warren.

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
42. Extremely interesting. The people who get on TV the most, are the ones with "F" ratings.
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 10:03 AM
Jun 2020

And I always wondered why Teevee Dems seem so mealy-mouthed. It's because Teevee doesn't let us see the really great ones very often.

MoonRiver

(36,926 posts)
15. I'm in the Midwest, and I know she would have a lot of appeal here.
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:16 AM
Jun 2020

And there are many different reasons for that.

 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
18. Exactly
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:19 AM
Jun 2020

Some people think the Midwest is populated only by conservative Republicans and center-right leaning white working class Democrats.

nsd

(2,406 posts)
17. Do no harm.
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:19 AM
Jun 2020

That's the first and possibly the only real criterion for choosing a VP.

Kamala Harris does no harm. I doubt there are any voters out there who are so enthusiastic about her that they would "crawl over broken glass" to support the ticket, but that's not the real criterion.

 

StarfishSaver

(18,486 posts)
24. "I doubt there are any voters who are so enthusiastic about her they would crawl over broken glass"
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:22 AM
Jun 2020

Then you're in for a huge surprise. The black Greek community alone could blow this thing up for us - in a good way ...

mcar

(42,210 posts)
19. Excellent analysis
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:19 AM
Jun 2020

Harris will capture the hearts and attention of many people. Joe is supposed to already appeal to Rust Belt voters.

tinrobot

(10,848 posts)
21. Clinton and Gore appealed to the same voters. They did just fine.
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:21 AM
Jun 2020

You're overthinking it a bit.

Biden just needs a really good campaigner. Someone who can hold the other side's feet to the fire and also energize voters.

Kamala can certainly do that, as can Warren, but there may be others.

marmar

(76,982 posts)
23. And also, these monolithic descriptions of the "Midwest" are tiresome....
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:22 AM
Jun 2020

You know who delivers Michigan for Democrats? Detroit and Ann Arbor.
And Pennsylvania? Philadelphia.
How about Wisconsin? Milwaukee and Madison.

Voters in those cities aren't motivated by this prototype "Midwesterner" of political pundit mythology.

Tech

(1,764 posts)
43. It doesn't help that the media finds people in the little diner in the smallest town in the least
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 10:24 AM
Jun 2020

populated county to represent the Midwest voter. We are a little more diverse than that. And I like Kamala, always have.

jcgoldie

(11,584 posts)
25. I agree picking a VP is political
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:23 AM
Jun 2020

Take the person who will have the most utility inspiring voters to get to the polls. If there are white working class people in the Midwest who are not inspired already by Joe then likely they have other issues *cough* racism... which probably make them unattainable to Democrats. I love Harris and will be excited if she's the pick. All things being equal I was very impressed with Val Demings throughout the impeachment affair and would probably choose her because any votes she can swing in Florida are magnitudes more important than those in California.

honest.abe

(8,556 posts)
38. Harris can help deliver voters across the board.
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 09:48 AM
Jun 2020

She has intelligence, charm, charisma, quick-wit which will appeal to many voters in various voter blocks regardless of region.

She will also be a great "attack dog" going after Trump and others.

colsohlibgal

(5,275 posts)
49. There Are A Few Good Choices
Fri Jun 19, 2020, 01:14 PM
Jun 2020

I like Harris, but I think maybe the best choice and most qualified pick would be Susan Rice.

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