Former Obama adviser lays out why Biden's VP would likely be the 'most powerful in history'

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

You're probably well aware of the fact that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, needs to pick a running mate. As always, voters are watching the process closely, but there's reason to believe his choice could mean even more than usual, The Atlantic reports.

That's because some people believe Biden's No. 2 will have more power than any vice president in history should the pair defeat President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in November. Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior Obama adviser who worked in the administration when Biden himself served as vice president, explained why to The Atlantic.

"Joe Biden's vice president will most likely be the most powerful vice president in history because the trend is toward more powerful vice presidents, Joe Biden knows the value of having a vice president with lots of responsibility, and Joe Biden is going to inherit an epic disaster," Pfeiffer said.

What Pfeiffer didn't mention, but would seemingly add to his argument, is that Biden views himself as a "transition candidate" who wants to help usher in a new era of Democratic political leaders, likely starting with his vice president. Read more at The Atlantic.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/former-obama-adviser-lays-why-203000684.html

[zipplewrath]

1. All the more reason for Rice

She'd be ready to organize and execute on day one.

[tableturner]

4. +1

[Awsi Dooger]

6. I'm going to be disappointed if it's not Rice

Looks like clear separation to me

[PTWB]

9. Kamala Harris.

[Laelth]

2. I'm favoring Karen Bass at this point.

Check her out. She’s a quiet, hard-working, behind-the-scenes liberal champion.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Bass

-Laelth

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. She might be wonderful, but where is the name recognition?

Isn't that more important this time around than ever before?

[Laelth]

11. I don't think so.

If we handle this election properly, it will be EXCLUSIVELY a referendum on Trump. Our VP candidate needs no name recognition. It’s all about what a miserable failure of a President Trump has proven to be.

-Laelth

[JI7]

5. I think she made some comments about Castro that would put Florida out of play for us

[Laelth]

12. I would be curious to know more about this.

Florida is not essential for us this year, but it is important. Could you kindly enlighten me?

-Laelth

[Ferrets are Cool]

13. This is all I could find. It seems kind of benign, but it doesn't take much to tear

down someone nowadays.

The Los Angeles Democrat raised eyebrows in 2016 after the death of Fidel Castro, when she referred to the Cuban autocrat as “Comandante en jefe” — an honorific that roughly translates to “commander in chief.”

Republicans often accuse Democrats of being socialists, and the line particularly rankled elected party grandees in Florida — many of whom have large Cuban-American constituencies.

“I disagree with the Congresswoman’s comments on Cuba. I invite people to come to Miami where we can educate them on the tyrannical dictatorship that has decimated Cuba for 60 years,” Rep. Donna Shalala told Politico. “My focus is on helping her and Joe Biden win Florida, the White House, and save our country.”

[Laelth]

14. I see. That could be an issue.

Thank you.

-Laelth

[oasis]

7. Rice for sure. nt

[Trumpocalypse]

8. Biden should pick a VP who best helps him win the election

Because if the ticket doesn’t win everything else is irrelevant.

[CousinIT]

10. Biden's VP may be the next President after Biden. n/t

[Trumpocalypse]

15. Or may not be

It's rare for a sitting VP to be elected President in their own right. It has happened only 4 times in our history and the first 2 were Adams and Jefferson when the rules were very different.

It only happened once in the 20th Century and that was the first George Bush in 1988. The last one prior to him was Martin Van Buren in 1836.

It is far more typical for a sitting VP to become President due to the death of the previous President which has happened 8 times, the last being LBJ in 1963.

Also, only one former VP has come back to win the Presidency. That was Nixon in 1968.