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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBiden 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.
Freddie
(9,231 posts)I think Harris is best in this regard imo
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Because if they don't win everything else is irrelevant.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,145 posts)brooklynite
(93,851 posts)Which voters do you imagine aren't excited about Biden but passionate about Harris....and who aren't already committed to voting Democratic?
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)brooklynite
(93,851 posts)StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Think about it for awhile. Maybe it will come to you.
brooklynite
(93,851 posts)...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)As for your other question, I'll let you work through it yourself.
PunkinPi
(4,870 posts)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)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?
PunkinPi
(4,870 posts)brooklynite
(93,851 posts)PunkinPi
(4,870 posts)StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)AMERICA does.
Johnny2X2X
(18,744 posts)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)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)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)Response to StarfishSaver (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
jcgoldie
(11,584 posts)Come on.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)This is DEMOCRATIC Underground
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)I'd get excited about somebody a bit more progressive.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Don't get me wrong, Kamala would be fine with me. But I think we need a bit of star power.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Are you not familiar with her? She is the most charismatic person on the list.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)"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)Higher than both Sanders and Warren.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Thanks for that info.
PunkinPi
(4,870 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)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)And there are many different reasons for that.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Some people think the Midwest is populated only by conservative Republicans and center-right leaning white working class Democrats.
marmar
(76,982 posts).... the VP should be someone who excites the base.
nsd
(2,406 posts)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)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)Harris will capture the hearts and attention of many people. Joe is supposed to already appeal to Rust Belt voters.
tinrobot
(10,848 posts)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.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Not operable in today's political world ...
marmar
(76,982 posts)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.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Notwithstanding the obsession with a certain class of white voters ...
Tech
(1,764 posts)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)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)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.
Blasphemer
(3,261 posts)colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)I like Harris, but I think maybe the best choice and most qualified pick would be Susan Rice.