Stacey Abrams: "I would be an excellent running mate"

[demmiblue]

Source: Axios

Stacey Abrams told Elle she would be "honored" to be Joe Biden's vice presidential pick, arguing that she has "the capacity to attract voters by motivating typically ignored communities."

Flashback: Biden advisers pondered packaging his campaign announcement last year with a pledge to choose Abrams as his running mate, as Axios' Mike Allen reported, and the former vice president has since committed to choosing a woman for the slot.

What she said:

"I would be an excellent running mate. I have the capacity to attract voters by motivating typically ignored communities. I have a strong history of executive and management experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. I've spent 25 years in independent study of foreign policy. I am ready to help advance an agenda of restoring America’s place in the world. If I am selected, I am prepared and excited to serve."

Read more: https://www.axios.com/stacey-abrams-vice-president-joe-biden-547d3abe-1287-4628-bc9c-6e2048b6da7e.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic&utm_content=1100

[CurtEastPoint]

1. As a Georgian, I love my Stacey and voted for her but no.... Harris.

[Auggie]

8. Further thoughts?

I'm in California and don't know Abrams that well. I'd like your take on her.

[CurtEastPoint]

24. Progressive, of course. Engaging. Smart. Just still too inexperienced, IMHO.

[Auggie]

33. Thank you

[reggaehead]

56. I don't know if ecperience is an issue.

I know she would eat Pence's lunch in a debate

[PunkinPi]

9. Not a Georgian, but agree with the rest. nt

[tinrobot]

22. Agreed. As much as I like Stacey, she needs a longer resume.

Harris has much more experience on the national stage.

[sop]

30. Being Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017 isn't

the sort of experience that qualifies one to be VP. Stacey is an impressive politician, but like Pete Buttigieg and Beto O'Rourke, but she should run for the Senate first.

[CurtEastPoint]

38. Yes.

[tinrobot]

40. Or governor. Or she can run a cabinet-level agency.

Plenty of ways to get qualified (in my mind, at least.)

[WhiteTara]

2. Oh my

that sounds so desperate. I have no idea who she really is except she lost her race and she didn't rip that asshat a new one.

[klook]

46. "Didn't rip that asshat a new one" -- LOL

From Melissa Harris-Perry's article in Elle, the source of this piece:

“I’m supposed to say nice things and accept my fate,” Abrams writes in the preface to her New York Times best-seller, Lead From the Outside. “I refused to be gaslighted into throwing away my power, diminishing my voice.”

Quoted in Newsweek, Nov. 17, 2018:

"I will not concede because the erosion of our democracy is not right," Abrams said in a speech in Atlanta on Friday night. "I acknowledge that former Secretary of State Brian Kemp will be certified as the victor in the 2018 gubernatorial election. But to watch an elected official who claims to represent the people in this state baldly pin his hopes for election on suppression of the people's democratic right to vote has been truly appalling."

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Experience

Because of Joe Biden's age, national affairs and executive experience required for voters to go with the ticket. That's why Governor Whitmer is advancing.

Plus she is one of the few choices who can actually deliver a battleground state. California, Massachusetts are not in that category. There is no incremental home state for VP candidates from those states to deliver.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. We need senators too. We need representatives too. We need city councilmembers too. We need....

[SheltieLover]

6. 😳

Presumptious, imo. 😱

As many have said, Stacey is wonderful, but does not have the experience to step into Joe's shoes, should the need arise.

[KPN]

25. I don't know. Biden gave the impression that he was consideri ng her as a running mate before

he even announced his candidacy. The he went to Georgia to meet with her just prior to announcing. Who knows? Maybe Biden's campaign suggest she start stumping publicly for the position.

Personally, I think she would be a great choice. She would bring Georgia along, she is both a woman and woman of color, young voters seem to like her, she's smart as a whip, a great speaker, probably actually won the Georgia election (it was unquestionably stolen from her by voter suppression if not outright vote count rigging), has far more legitimate experience than is being given credit for, and has shown that she cab get big things done. I don't think there are many better choices myself.

[still_one]

7. Yes she would. We have a lot of good choices. This is not going to be easy

because there are so many excellent possibilities

[sfstaxprep]

10. I Still Believe It's Between Harris & Abrams

My ex-gf really is hoping for Abrams. I think it's a toss up as to who he'll choose. My choice would be Harris, but either is fine.

[cstanleytech]

11. She would be a person that would look to represent the real American people in any office rather

than the Republicans in the House and Senate who's apparent goal is to gain power at any cost even if it means being more interested in representing the interest of the corporations and countries who's goal is to weaken the United States rather than faking that they are interested in representing the American people.

[JudyM]

21. We definitely need a fighter.

[KPN]

27. Exactly ..,., and has the talent and smarts to do so effectively.

[mountain grammy]

31. This!

She is one of us.. the 99%

Stacey will appeal to the better instincts in people like Trump appeals to the worst.. We know the majority chose Hillary, now let's go after all those who wrongly thought it didn't make a difference and didn't vote.. I honestly believe Stacey can connect and convince those people.

[IronLionZion]

12. You don't want to publicly ask for it

not a good look to be making your own case in the media like this. So I suspect she won't be the running mate. But she should still have a role in registering voters and fighting voter suppression.

[PunkinPi]

14. She'd make a fantastic DNC chair. nt

[IronLionZion]

16. Agreed

[squirecam]

37. Right

She’s a no from me.

[OrlandoDem2]

13. Does our party not groom people anymore? I love Abrams. I love Beto.

But so many people think you jump from state senate or Congress right into the presidency or VP. And that’s after losing a race for statewide office (Senate for Beto and governor for Abrams).

Why not get Abrams to run again for governor? Why not groom her by offering a Cabinet post? Why not run for Congress?

Stacy has a promising future. It’s very bright indeed, but we need to build a freakin bench!

[Greg K]

18. I agree.

[Jose Garcia]

26. She was encouraged to run for the US Senate

She declined

[KPN]

32. And she declined because she was more interested in getting Fair Fight Action,

the voting rights nonprofit organization she founded and currently chairs up and running instead. A damned good reason in my view. The organization has sued the State of Georgia in federal court for voter suppression -- the lawsuit is on-goiing; and is building voter protection teams in 20 States to help ensure fair elections in 2020.

[moonscape]

47. Yes, and she explained her strength (and interest) was

in managerial positions. I can see why she didn't think the Senate would be a good fit for her.

[mountain grammy]

17. I think Stacey Abrams is the best choice..

The best! I believe many on DU vastly underestimate her connection with people.

Watch her. Listen to her.

[KPN]

34. Me too.

[Normanart]

54. totally agree

she has all the appealing attributes with very few negatives. a few polls to see how she compares to Harris should answer the question.

[FunkyLeprechaun]

19. IE "I'm definitely not going to be his running mate"

I feel like she’s made her chances less likely.

I think we should be looking at people kind of keeping mum on this. Before Obama chose Biden, Biden denied he was going to be O’s VP pick. My mum said she kind of knew Biden would be VP because of his body language in his denial.

I haven’t heard much about Harris but Klobuchar has declined to comment on her chances of being VP pick. I feel like it might be Klobuchar (Biden definitely needs a profile in the Midwest and Klobuchar has really heavily campaigned and made her presence known in places like Iowa) but I’m ok with Harris.

[Raven123]

20. I prefer Klobuchar. Tough, experienced, informed, articulate, energetic

[LuvLoogie]

23. Kamala or Amy.

I've never thought that never winning a statewide office race was a good qualifier for president. Pete was probably the one I would have felt most comfortable with, over Beto or Julian.

[Jose Garcia]

28. We need someone with a much more impressive resume

[KPN]

36. Her resume is not very different from Bareack Obama's when he ran for President.

Granted Obama haad 4 years of one term as Senator under his belt, but effectively only had 2 years when he threw his hat in the ring.

[Jose Garcia]

50. 2 years in the Senate is still muchmore impressive than no years in the Senate

[BComplex]

29. Elizabeth Warren is the one that should be his running mate.

She is well known and highly respected nation-wide.

[left-of-center2012]

35. No thank you

I want someone more qualified than a former state legislator to be a heart beat from the presidency.

[KPN]

39. This story is reporting what she said a year ago when the Biden team actually had been talking

about Biden naming her up front at the start of his campaign. At l;east that's the way it reads to me.

I do think Stacy Abrams would be a great choice.

Ooops -- take that first part back. I clicked on the Elle link and it was a recent article/interview. My bad.

[2naSalit]

41. There are a couple of Cabinet positions I would like to see her

in, one of them that is. However, I would much prefer either Susan Rice or Kamala Harris as VP.

[quickesst]

42. personally....

...... I would never choose someone who is beating their own drum, and actively campaigning for the position. Stacey Abrams just shot herself in the foot. Also, not enough experience.

Kamala Harris comes from a solid blue state, could barely reach 5% support from the black community during her entire primary campaign, and tried unsuccessfully to throw Joe Biden under the bus several times, all of which backfired on her. If it were me, I would feel much better knowing that the person at my side would be someone I could rely on and trust.

[hamsterjill]

43. She doesn't make me feel confident.

I love her enthusiasm and I think she has a bright future, but I don’t think she’s the right choice for VP this time around.

I like the idea of Susan Rice, and I also think Valerie Jarrett could be a consideration.

Ultimately, I am voting for Joe and whoever he picks!

[demmiblue]

44. Here is the original Elle article (it is written by Melissa Harris-Perry):

Stacey Abrams on Voting Rights, COVID-19, and Being Vice President



Experienced politicians know there is a right way to answer questions about pursuing higher office. Be demure. Redirect. Convey vague interest while insisting never to have given it serious consideration. But Stacey Abrams does not give the expected answer when I ask if she would accept an offer from former vice president Joe Biden to serve as his 2020 running mate. “Yes. I would be honored,” Abrams says. “I would be an excellent running mate. I have the capacity to attract voters by motivating typically ignored communities. I have a strong history of executive and management experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. I’ve spent 25 years in independent study of foreign policy. I am ready to help advance an agenda of restoring America’s place in the world. If I am selected, I am prepared and excited to serve.”

Abrams’s direct response betrays ambition, makes verifiable claims, and establishes outcomes to which she could later be held accountable. By normal political rules, it is the wrong answer. But as Abrams and I talk in March in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, it is clear that normal political rules no longer apply. I’m asking her about an unknown political future even as the future itself is frighteningly unknowable: schools closing, businesses shuttering, and Americans sheltering against a raging virus we can barely fathom. Amid this chaotic unpredictability, Abrams’s candor is disarming and comforting.

Into the Unknown

In the March 15 televised debate, Biden committed to choosing a woman as his running mate. Less than a week later, the progressive strategy network Way to Win released survey data indicating Stacey Abrams was Biden’s strongest potential lieutenant. A graduate of Spelman College, the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin, and Yale Law School, Abrams made history as the first woman to lead a political party in Georgia’s General Assembly and the first African American to lead the Georgia House of Representatives. In 2018, she pursued history again, mounting an ultimately unsuccessful campaign to become America’s first black woman governor. Her defeat came amid election irregularities and allegations of voter suppression. Abrams refused to concede the close race to her Republican opponent, Brian Kemp. “I’m supposed to say nice things and accept my fate,” Abrams writes in the preface to her New York Times best-seller, Lead From the Outside. “I refused to be gaslighted into throwing away my power, diminishing my voice.”

The loss was not her end. The political star that is Stacey Abrams has continued to rise. On the heels of her defeat, she founded Fair Fight, a national organizing effort to ensure fair elections. This was followed by Fair Count, which works to achieve a fully accurate and representative census. Then, late last year, Abrams launched the Southern Economic Advancement Project to promote equitable economic and social policy for all races, classes, and genders across the region. She did all this while crisscrossing the country, giving lectures, supporting local Democratic candidates, and even becoming the first black woman to deliver the official Democratic response to President Trump’s State of the Union in 2019.

https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a32132819/stacey-abrams-on-voting-rights-covid-19-and-being-vice-president/

[klook]

49. Thank you.

Focusing on the "money quote" taken out of context completely misses the point. Harris-Perry says, "I ask if she would accept an offer from former vice president Joe Biden to serve as his 2020 running mate."

What honest Democrat with the charisma and public profile of Stacey Abrams would reject the post if offered?

I personally don't care if she hasn't served as a U.S. senator or Georgia governor, although I understand that many would prefer someone with different experience.

What I do know is that Abrams would inspire a lot of voters who are anti-Trump but not necessarily on fire about Biden. I haven't seen her in person, but friends who have say she is electrifying. She has the ability to hold an audience spellbound, she is super-smart, and her personal story is one a lot of regular people can relate to.

And, oh yes, as this excerpt you've quoted illustrates, she does have impressive qualifications. She makes Mike Pence (or even what's-her-name from South Carolina) look like slugs by comparison, in my opinion.

I certainly don't think Stacey Abrams is the only choice, but she wouldn't be a bad one. And, as genius pollster Prof. Rachel Bitecofer tweeted on April 10th:

Imperative for Biden to boost turnout of D coalition (Indies & Ds), esp if voting in Nov will be impacted by COVID19.
@staceyabrams fills in the most imp gap Biden's candidacy has: enthusiasm/charisma.

All the D losses ('00, '04, '16) are tickets that lacked charisma.

Her words, not mine! But she has a point.

[RT Atlanta]

45. I like Stacey, but disagree for now

(with the caveat I voted for her as governor).

Stacey is a good legislator, and having someone with that knowledge will be helpful, but in my view the country needs immediately experienced persons that can work through the ins/outs of the Federal system from day 1 (no time for on the job learning).

IIRC Joe reached out to her months back and early on as a potential candidate - Joe had not worked his way to the front and Stacey kept her powder dry.

[mahina]

48. Wish I could Rec a hundred times. She would help him win.

God willing.

[nsd]

51. Harris, Klobuchar, Whitmer.

I bet that's Biden's top three. He needs a senator or a governor.

The pitch, even before the coronavirus, was that Biden would represent a return to safe and responsible governance. Now is not the time for a fresh face or to roll the dice. Abrams should run for governor again in 2022.

[Joinfortmill]

52. She dissed Biden when he first mentioned her, so NO.

[RhodeIslandOne]

53. I would love to see her appointed as chair of a Presidential commission on voting rights.

Which should be formed on day one.

[nsd]

55. "I've spent 25 years in independent study of foreign policy."

That line made me laugh. That is some grade-A resume-polishing BS, right there.