Unfortunate and uncomfortable truths about the next VP choice

[DFab420]

It won't be a woman. We are unfortunately not ready as a country for a two woman ticket. Sucks, but it's just the way it is.

It won't be a person of color. Again because this country just couldn't handle it.

It won't be Josh Shapiro, both because we need a Dem Gov in PA and because he's Jewish and again, this country is NOT ready to vote for both a woman of color and a jewish man.

It won't be anyone from California because that choice wouldn't help win swing states.

It won't be a billionaire or business executive because that would be a slap in the face of the progressive wing.

So. Who does that leave us with?

Roy Cooper, Mark Kelly, J.B. Pritizker, Andy Beshear

Anyone else??

[still-prayin4rain]

1. Mark Kelly! He would make JD Vance look so incredibly unaccomplished and inexperienced.

From his website:

"Mark Kelly has served his country as a U.S. Navy combat pilot, a NASA astronaut, and now as a U.S. Senator for Arizona.

He is an independent leader who came to the Senate to serve Arizona’s working families, not corporate special interests.

As the son of two police officers, Senator Kelly learned the value of public service at an early age. He attended public schools from elementary school all the way through graduate school. Senator Kelly earned his B.S. degree in marine engineering and nautical science from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and later an M.S. degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School."


https://www.kelly.senate.gov/about/

[hvn_nbr_2]

93. Prosecutor & astronaut VS. Felon and hillbilly. nt

[still-prayin4rain]

96. Yes! Love it! nt

[Self Esteem]

2. It won't be a billionaire ... and then you list J.B. Pritizker.

Uhm...

[DFab420]

5. Right, I meant a non-politican. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

[genxlib]

3. Can't be California

The constitution does not allow a ticket from the same state.

Logic aside.

[RockRaven]

12. The Consitution allows it, technically. The Electoral College math does not.

IIRC...

[Daveigh]

22. Yes it can

It’s a misconception that the VP and POTUS can’t come from the same state; the Constitution doesn’t prevent it.
The issue would be losing the electoral votes from California.

https://www.history.com/news/can-the-president-and-vice-president-be-from-the-same-state

There are many misconceptions about the rules of a president choosing their running mate. There’s no law or regulation against a president and vice president of the United States being from the same state. The reason why some people mistakenly believe such a prohibition exists comes down to a particular aspect of the Electoral College system laid out in Article II of the U.S. Constitution.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

28. Re "the constitution" - laughs in Dick Cheney

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Can't be any Senator

We have a razor thin Margin.

I also think we should be looking at 40-50 Somethings.

[Raven123]

34. Apparently the Dem governor can name a senator to replace Kelly.

From another thread

[pinkstarburst]

57. Except that person has to run again in 2026 and in 2028

And Kelly barely won that seat with all his name recognition AND being an astronaut. There is just no guarantee that if we give up Kelly's senate seat that we would hold it.

[4139]

45. Can be a senator from states with Democratic governors

Sen. Casey of Pennsylvania… can he run for reelection and senate at the same time?

[JustAnotherGen]

77. Okay then -but we don't get a choice

I'm leadership in Corporate America - just a few years younger than Harris.

Successful black women pick loyal people to work for them. Will he have a problem working for a black woman?

I trust her judgment- but my most loyal employees have been male millenials. They don't have a chip on their shoulder.

[still-prayin4rain]

86. I think the primary consideration should be who can best help beat Trump, period. We can worry about 2026 in 2026...

unless we can't because .... the unspeakable happens. (I am not even going to say it)

[PCIntern]

6. Pritzker is Jewish.

Just to let u know…

[DFab420]

9. ah see, so it will most likely not be him.

Too much change to get white work class America to accept.

[spooky3]

36. And rich -- and he's a great, kickass guy. Nt

[bamagal62]

66. I LOVE Pritzker

Bu there are a lot out there that don’t.

[leftstreet]

7. Why isn't the country ready for a 2 women ticket?

And when exactly will it be ready?

[DFab420]

11. I mean *gestures wildly at everything around us*

[JustAnotherGen]

25. My greatest fear is

That I wake up the day after the election and scream like I did in 2016.

I'm a black woman - I don't believe in America. I just don't. I remember being stunned in 2016.

Two women? Eh - I think there are too many women who are,sexist against women for that to happen.

[leftstreet]

35. Those women just hate liberals

They were never going to vote for a Dem candidate unless that candidate pretended to be a conservative.

Enough already.

[RockRaven]

26. WHY is a good question. But this country elected a fraudster sex criminal

game show host instead of a very qualified white lady so there can't be much doubt that it IS that way.

[leftstreet]

29. She got more votes though

[RockRaven]

32. Yeah, and who gets more popular votes doesn't decide this election either.

[leftstreet]

43. I know

Just hate people going full 90s trying to decide how to present the right candidates

[Scrivener7]

39. Because it isn't. We need a white man to make the suburban soccer moms and the

gun club good ol' boys not freak out.

I don't like them, but we need them, so we need to do what we need to do to get them. I'll be thrilled to have a woman President of color. I don't need a female or a person of color for VP.

[DFab420]

48. Yup. It sucks but it's the unfortunate calculus we need to make without Biden.

[edisdead]

8. Gov Tim Walz MN

call me crazy but under him as Gov and with our dem house and senate we rewrite the book in how progressive policy helps people and helps the state. There have been articles about it.

MN is pretty safe to stay blue without him and would be a solid midwestern pick to help with WI and Mi.

He has been a US Rep, ex-military, high school teacher and football coach. All American as fuck.

[DFab420]

16. Oh interesting! That could be a solid choice

[ProudMNDemocrat]

37. I have known Tim Walz since 2005...

And consider him a close personal friend.

I had not thought of him as a possible consideration. I know him to be of a man of faith, morals, values, and principles. He is also a great debater and communicator. That is the High School teacher in him.

Having reached the rank of Command Sargent Major in the MN Army national Guard takes a lot and not everyone makes such a rank as a Non Com. As our former Congressman in the 1st CD, Tim was effective. It was tough to lose the district in 2018, but happy to have him as Gov. of Minnesota. Peggy Flanagan can do the job if Tim is selected.

What a dream that would be. He would rip ole JD a new one like he did to all those he faced running for Congress and Governor. To personally know someone inside to the WH would be another.

[edisdead]

62. He is awesome.

Met him at a fund raiser for his first election. Didn’t know much about him at the time and was skeptical. He was from Mankato MN. Southern part if the state, college town but otherwise fairly red area and he was successful there. Anyway, the moment he spoke my ears perked up. He had me after the first minute. Then I got a chance to talk to him about things. I asked him about social issues at the time. He said people like to call good ideas socialist. Well socialism is just another word for good neighborliness. And it was the way he said it that was just so down to earth and took the sting of the word socialism out of the context. At the time republicans were attacking democrats with the word socialism attached to everything. Anyway he was able to take republican barbs and just melt them down.

He is a really good guy and a really good governor.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

68. I met Tim in Feburary of 2005.

He and my husband attended a grass roots candidate and volunteer seminar called Camp Wellstone in St. Paul.

At many DFL Functions in and around Rochester that year, I remember the look on his face when I stood up to say to the group why I became a Democrat. It was in 1968 and seeing and hearing Bobby Kennedy give a passionate speech in San Jose the day before he was assassinated. Tim looked as if he was about to cry.

Throughout 2005 and 2006, we worked out butts off for him. We attended so many fundraisers for him, as well as attended debates that were held in the 1st CD. When he won his first term in Congress, we were at the DFL Office in Mankato. There I met Amy Klobuchar's in-laws. If Tim were selected, I know Amy, who is also a friend, would campaign hard as she is running for her 4th term as US Senator from Minnesota.

[dflprincess]

40. Tim Walz is a wonderful governor

but Minnesota only brings 10 electoral votes to the party and, despite Republican rhetoric, is apt to remain blue this year.

Fun fact though, if Walz did become VP, Lt. Gov Peggy Flannagan would become, not only Minnesota's first woman governor, but its first indigenous governor as well (she is a member of the White Earth band of Ojibwe).

[edisdead]

63. All true

But I think he could help sure up the midwestern blue wall.

[Sneederbunk]

10. I disagree re Shapiro. He brings a state with him.

[DFab420]

17. Could another Dem get elected in PA though?

[onandup]

70. Isn't the White House more important?

nt

[still-prayin4rain]

88. Exactly! Who can best help defeat Trump in 3 months should be the first, second, third, and fourth priority. nt

[Wiz Imp]

76. Absolutely!

The Dems have won the Governorship in PA 3 times in a row with the closest of those being by a 55% to 45% margin. In addition, if Shapiro left the Governor's position, his Lieutenant Governor (Austin Davis -also a Dem) would then take over until the next election which isn't until 2026.

[Freddie]

89. Yes

Plus the Lt. Governor, a Dem, would finish Shapiro’s term.
Who cares if he’s Jewish?! Dems don’t demand that our candidate go to church, and we’ve had enough phony “Christians” from the other side. I think that’s a non-issue.

[Claustrum]

21. IMO, Shapiro seems to be the best candidate on paper.

He brings in an important swing state and he probably has similar appeals to the rust belt.

[doc03]

41. I don't get it Shapiro is popular in PA a Democrat and the polls said Biden a Democrat

from Scranton couldn't win PA? WTF

[jimfields33]

54. Shapiro has been Pennsylvania all life.

President Biden left at 11 years old, and became Delaware. Most think of him from Delaware.

[Claustrum]

61. Lots of things against Biden unfortunately (look through my posts, I am sad Biden got out)

But the reality is, high inflation makes people think the economy is bad (along with the MSM beating this non-stop with monthly "recession is happening" headlines and then we have job reports and economy reports that contradicts it. Regardless, they never said they were wrong and it's like clock work, they have another article or "news" saying recession is coming next month since the day Biden took office and it happened for over 3 years).

His age is a problem (but why is it not for TFG?). The debate and recent messed up didn't help him at all. Biden used to make the same kind of mistakes with his stutter but the media got the narrative and story (of his supposedly mental decline) and they weren't going to let that story go. And they did pick any mistakes he made as a story.

Biden never has a strong support base (we are the minority in strongly supporting and preferring him). He just has a lot of soft support even in the overall democratic party and most saw it as an anti-TFG vote.

None of these are really Biden's problem but is a negative on him. It was always an uphill battle for him because of the environment we are in. What I didn't expect was that he got through the primary but is getting out now.

[Retrograde]

69. Who's the lieutenant governor?

Also a Dem? Can he/she hold the seat?

[Sugarcoated]

84. Yes, he is a Democrat.

I don't know if he could get reelected. It would depend on how he does as gov

[Ex Lurker]

94. And loses Michigan NT

[Goodheart]

13. I would say Mark Kelly is the favorite right now.

then Shapiro, then Buttegieg.

I have no actual data on that.

[Frasier Balzov]

82. Mark Kelly is married to a grievously injured gunshot victim.

Which gives this nation's gun lovers too much basis for suspicion of him.

[still-prayin4rain]

83. Takes the wind out of Trump trying to look like a hero because of his ear boo-boo, though. nt

[ibegurpard]

14. Those are not truths they are opinions

They are not unfounded but please don't label them as truths.

[Bongo Prophet]

53. Yeah, there's a lot of that going around

JuSt TelLinG thE TrUth, aNd yOu StupiDs cAn't hAndLe iT.

C'mon, everyone, share your opinions and discuss and learn from each other.
DU is a "discussion board" after all.
Regardless, we have our jobs cut out for us, so onward together!

[LeftInTX]

15. Pritizker is also Jewish

Normally being Jewish wouldn't be an issue, but since Doug is Jewish, I'm afraid voters will see it the ballot as "too Jewish".

[DFab420]

20. Yee I didn't know! But I unfortunately think that's the truth.

[honest.abe]

18. Disagree about your Shapiro comment.

Just being Jewish is not disqualifying. That's absurd.

[DFab420]

23. I just don't think the country is ready to have a double minority ticket.

JFK faced issues just being Catholic for pete's sake.

[honest.abe]

33. I don't think most people see Shapiro as a minority.

Good grief he won PA. If he can win there he can win in other "rust belt" states.

[DFab420]

50. Interesting point but I think the hate mongers would highlight it without fail and it would become an issue

[kentuck]

19. I disagree with your point about Shapiro.

He was elected Governor of Pennsylvania. And he has a high favorability with the citizens of his state, from both Parties. They need PA moreso than they need KY or NC, in my opinion.

[DFab420]

24. Could another Dem get elected Gov in a special election in PA?

[Wiz Imp]

80. There would be no special election.

The Lt. Governor would serve out the remainder of the term (thru 2026). This happened in 2001 when PA Governor Tom Ridge was chosen as the first head of Homeland Security. Lt. Governor Mark Schweiker took over and served thru the end of 2002 when Ed Rendell was elected during the normal election cycle.

[spooky3]

42. He's also a very good speaker imho nt

[Sugarcoated]

87. The chemical spill

I think he impressed Ohioans the way he handled that

[Renew Deal]

27. I'm not convinced on the "no woman" part of it

I think Whitmer would help make a compelling ticket and I think they'd have a chance to breach through

[WhiteTara]

30. Pete

[GPV]

44. I'm with you!

[edisdead]

64. He brings nothing to the ticket.

he can’t help deliver any state, and he has never win a statewide election.

Smart as hell but he is a cabinet guy.

[JustAnotherGen]

31. I think

It will be someone Harris trusts and will have her back.

[pinkstarburst]

49. Pete!

[edisdead]

65. He has no ticket value.

He cannot help deliver a state and has never win statewide election.

[JustAnotherGen]

74. We don't know what their

Working relationship is like. Remember - she's done the job - and I bet she's leaning into Biden for guidance . . . since he's also done the job.

We have to trust her.

[Wicked Blue]

38. Since when has anyone cared about the progressive wing?

I fear it will be someone the oligarchy approves of

[DFab420]

46. Seems like Manchin is their man, which is why the Dems seem to be coalescing around the VP.

[pinkstarburst]

47. Mark Kelly is not a great choice, IMHO, because we need his senate seat

He barely won that senate seat and even though a democratic governor would name the replacement, that person would have to run again in 2026 and 2028. With no guarantee they would win. Mark Kelly barely won and he's an astronaut.

There are other safer choices that do not cost us a senate seat. For that reason alone, Mark Kelly and Raphael Warnock should not be in contention. We can't lose senate seats in closely contested states.

[DFab420]

51. So Cooper or Beshear then?

[onetexan]

75. Josh Shapiro or Mark Kelly. PA & AZ are both swing states.

[still-prayin4rain]

85. IMHO, the best person to help beat Trump should be the primary consideration. We can worry about 2026 in 2026. nt

[Metaphorical]

52. Not sure I agree on two women being unacceptable

Eight years ago, I think you may have been right.

A lot has happened in eight years.

* The dismantling of Roe vs. Wade and the subsequent attempts to control ALL reproductive rights.
* Four years of Trump and the showcasing of male toxic culture,
* The presence of two extremely narcissistic, misogynist sociopaths on the GOP ticket this time around,
* Project 2025, and its implications for women especially
* The growing influence of Tech Bro culture, especially against women
* The waning influence of evangelicals (and a growing anti-Mammon movement)
* Climate has become more extreme, which I believe women are more concerned about than men

I think that one woman at the head of the ticket is going to be too much for some people, but these aren't the people who would be voting Democratic anyway. I don't see two women on the ticket making that much difference in comparison.

[anglesphere]

55. I'm not denying that that has been the trend

but only want to remind you that we already tried pairing a woman presidential candidate with the traditional white guy VP and it failed.

I have zero evidence to back this up but maybe a more aggressive move towards a two woman ticket could payoff?

They should game it out.

[Scully]

56. Pete Buttigieg...

... is a compelling pick in my book.

[edisdead]

67. once again what state does he help deliver?

He has never win a statewide election.

I like him and he is smart but he is better suited for a cabinet pick.

[kentuck]

71. Yeah, he's a star but what battleground state does he deliver.

His time will come.

[Scully]

81. He doesn't deliver states...

… he delivers people who are disillusioned and feel marginalized and underrepresented. That’s nothing to sneeze at, and might tip the scales in a positive direction.

[brush]

58. Try to be a bit less negative about our choices.

Most winning tickets have a sensible balance. Two women, two POCs, two white males even is not a balance ticket in our new political reality.

The names you mentioned are fine. IMO Sen. Mark Kelly of battleground state Arizona with his military/astronaut backgorund shooting victim wife is the way to good.

Be enthused, we've just gotten a huge injedtion of energy into the campaign, thanks to the great, selfless patriot, Pres. Joe Biden.

[DFab420]

59. Not being negative? Just trying to separate the actual choices from the dream tickets

[Scrivener7]

60. Obama did the math. He realized he needed to choose a nice white man for his VP so as not to freak

out the more bigoted Democrats (whose votes we need, whether we like that fact or not.)

He was right. He won.

With Kamala being a woman AND a person of color, it is the smarter way to go.

[Emile]

72. Mark Kelly is a bad choice. We need him in that Arizona

Senate seat. We could possibly lose that seat to a Republican.

[Emile]

73. After considerable thought, AL FRANKEN would

be a great choice for VP.

[angrychair]

78. Here is my thoughts

No since it being from a state we are already winning.
We need someone that may be able to help tip the scales in their state.

The best of those options is Roy Cooper, governor of North Carolina.

[BWdem4life]

79. I see no reason for me or anyone else here to speculate because

It's obvious the choice won't be ours. The choice was probably made weeks ago by people who have the money and the real power in this country, and that ain't us.

[ViewObsessed]

90. Beto!

[Wonder Why]

91. What about General Milley? Yes, he does have some issues but most of them were already aired. And I think he can bring

many uncommitted voters around the country. And he is definitely anti-Trump and pro constitution.

[JCMach1]

92. We need to bring non politico to the table and Milley would work

[ecstatic]

95. As far as name combos go - Harris Cooper and Harris Kelly sound best. Easy to spell. lol

I'm really not very familiar with any of them except Mark Kelly. He's always texting me.