Who's the best VP for each nominee?

[Bucky]

Joe Biden is hinting he'd pick Kamala Harris for his number two spot. I think that's pretty smart. They're closed politically but miles apart stylistically. You don't gain anything in the electoral college with her, but I think regional VP choices may be a thing of the past anyway. If his goal is to patch demographic holes in his appeal, I'd offer up Ayanna Pressley. She's the smartest and savviest of "The Squad". She's young, experienced in local government, connected to the Kennedys, and feminist as hell.

I've heard some Bernie supporters say Warren would be his best VP. and I'm supporting Warren for the top spot anyway, but I don't think she gains him anything at all in the #2 spot. Sanders needs to go young, but maybe not too young (don't need to spotlight his age). Bernie himself would of course reject the question of optics in picking an understudy, but Julian Castro, Tammy Baldwin, or Tammy Duckworth are all worth looking at. Duckworth checks the box on military experience and her selection might calm down a few reluctant moderates in the party. He'll need to build more bridges than any other potential nominee.

Warren should also consider Sen Harris. But I'd suggest she, more than any other candidate, needs to think regionally. Julian Castro would be her smartest choice demographically speaking, he's around 50 and would rally the southwest (but won't help in Texas). But she probably needs someone with ties to big business. So I'd recommend Cory Booker, who not only has great government experience, but also had a compelling heroic quality, given his tendency to run into burning buildings.

Bloomberg is easy. The only pick for him would be Elizabeth Warren. If he can't appoint her, he's a chickenshit. She's the only running mate who'd show he's serious about finance industry reform. She's the only partnership that shows he's an actual Democrat.

Buttigieg (whose name my spellcheck is only just starting to recognize) will need a populist, an troublemaking rabble-rouser. It's a shame AOC is too young. It's a shame Angus King is too old. But Ted Lieu is in the Goldilocks zone. Dude can throw a punch. Again, there's the California problem--it doesn't patch electoral holes.

on edit: as per comments below, Ted Lieu isn't eligible. So let me play my one wild card and suggest George Clooney instead

But anyway, that's my suggestion for candidates who are their 70s or 30s.

Any other thoughts?

[Progressive2020]

1. Interesting

Interesting post, I agree with much of it except I think it will be a chilly day in Hades before Bloomberg chooses Elizabeth Warren as his Running Mate. She cut right into him during the debates and pointed out some serious problems with a Bloomberg candidacy. I think Bloomberg will appoint someone more docile that Warren. She is basically an enemy of his, and rightfully so, in my book.

[Moderateguy]

3. Not to mention Bloomberg got in the race to stop her

And Bernie. I don’t see why he’d pick her for VP, unless it is a contested convention and he was forced to

[Bucky]

4. Agree, but who else could he pick to show he's not a thin-skinned dilettante?

When you think about how any other nominee would come across, you see she's the only choice. particularly when you see he's not getting that gig without a brokered convention and a major Biden meltdown.

[BusyBeingBest]

24. Bloomberg and Warren are a good match only in terms of sheer

brain-wattage--they are probably the two sharpest, intellectually speaking, out of the Dem lineup, IMO (maybe Pete is up there too). Beyond that, they appear to loathe each other. I doubt she would agree to be his VP. I doubt he'd help fund her if she was the nominee. I doubt she'd want him to. Probably Klobuchar would be a better fit.

[Kurt V.]

2. tim kaine is available.

[Bucky]

7. I tried to back off from making any jokes in this thread

I like Kaine but he's tarnished now.

If you read the one-liners I nearly posted about Presley, Klobuchar, Biden, and Tom Udall, you'd want to slap me

[Kurt V.]

14. Its a thoughtful op and appreciated. a bit of humor never hurts :)

[The empressof all]

5. Ted Lieu is not eligible...

I love him but he wasn't born in the United States.

I would support Duckworth for any of the candidates VP. She is stellar

Warren will not be on any of the tickets as the VP. I do however think if Bernie doesn't win on the first vote she would be the best candidate to get the nomination as someone the Progressives and the Moderates can compromise on. If Bernie wasn't so stubborn, he would throw his delegates to her early and avoid a big brouhaha altogether. She supports most of his policies and his agenda would have greater success in actually moving forward.

[Bucky]

9. 😥

Why didn't the Republicans pass the Schwarzenneggar Amendment years ago? Lord knows they fantasized about it loud enough

[Celerity]

10. he is my House member, he fucking rocks! so over the moon he is my Rep

His office is so great on follow-up

[Skittles]

6. Beto

[TexasTowelie]

13. Yes. nt

[Skittles]

15. I still can't believe the choices

I still think Beto is the best.

[Bucky]

17. I was onboard with him too.

He never punched through from the crowd; he needed a smaller field to run in to win. If Bernie is the nominee, it will be specifically because Biden ran when he should have passed the torch.

So I went with my second choice, who was my first choice before Beto jumped in, because I think she's the one that's prepared to do the job

Sadly, being prepared to do the job isn't really a requirement for getting elected

[Skittles]

23. it's the Warren/Sanders association that spooks me

I really cannot stand you know who.

[Bucky]

50. Warren-Sanders names zero sense politically

Someone who believes in the winning mandate is better, obviously, than a token from the defeated faction of the party, but that's not how you system works.

We all want the candidate who's best able to govern, but we have to nominate the one who's best suited to win the election.

Fuckin' democracy

[Skittles]

52. well if I had to pick one

I'd pick the one who did not help give us Donald Fucking Trump

[dalton99a]

47. +1

[karynnj]

8. Ted Lieu was not born in the US

I seriously doubt that Bloomberg would even consider Warren - he does not seem that forgiving!

Though I think that Stacy Abrahms would be perfect as a Biden VP, Pressley is an interesting choice - and I would bet that Biden has known her well for a long time as she was a top staffer for Kerry.

[comradebillyboy]

44. State legislator vs up and coming US representative. Pressley would

the better choice by far.

[pamdb]

11. VP

I have said from the beginning I would like to see Biden/Harris ticket.

[TruckFump]

32. Ditto! 👍. EOM

[tavernier]

41. Yeah, me too!

[TexasTowelie]

12. I'll just leave this here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287577935

[Bucky]

16. Wonderful!

[nsd]

18. My picks

Biden / Harris
Sanders / Warren
Warren / Sherrod Brown
Bloomberg / Klobuchar
Buttigieg / Harris
Klobuchar / Booker

[Celerity]

22. Sherrod Brown costs us a Senate seat (Rethug DeWine will put in a Rethug)

Bloomberg / Klobuchar would have major law-enforcement issues with my fellow PoC, and is too centrist a ticket as well.

Stacey Abrams would be best for most all the males, after her, Harris, IMHO.

[Celerity]

19. Stacey Abrams for all the males

[The empressof all]

28. Stacey Abrams would not be a wise pick...

Although I think she is great, she is an unknown to those who are not from the South or who are really not following the Party. We need someone who has had greater visibility across the country and even better, someone with a well known name. Most folks have no clue who she is and she would be described as that woman who lost the Governors race in Georgia.

[Celerity]

30. she is a transcendent speaker and has 'it', and puts multiple states into play more than

anyone else mentioned.

that woman who lost the Governors race in Georgia.

that woman who had the governor's race openly stolen by one of the most blatant, racist voter suppression schemes run since Jim Crow days


there, fixed it for you

[The empressof all]

33. Yes we know she was robbed...

That is not how it will be framed and we need to pay attention to appearances this go around. And I agree she is an inspirational and inspiring speaker this is not the time to go with someone who is unknown. Aside from those states she may place into play which IMO is a big reach...She brings nothing from the rest of the country. We here on DU pay more attention to what candidates say. We know their positions inside out. Most people don't have the time or inclination to spend that kind of time listening to speeches. In order to beat Trump we need National names with proven records who the American People can feel that they know. Honestly, it's one of the reasons that our Best Candidate Elizabeth Warren isn't doing well. Most people really just don't really know her and what she has done. But I also think Tim Kane hurt Hillary in the Midwest because most voters there said "Who the heck is that?" And yes, Hillary was robbed too. We need to Win and we need to win decisively this go around.

I really do like the idea of Tammy Duckworth but I believe she was born in Thailand and would not be eligible. I actually think Amy would be a smart choice if we have a Male nominee.

[Celerity]

34. Abrams is quite capable of framing herself. She will hardly be unknown by the time

November rolls around. Obama was basically unknown to a similar degree to a shedload of the voting population when he declared for POTUS in early February, 2007.

[The empressof all]

35. I really like her too but this is not the 2008 election

I'm just too nervous to feel inclined to take chances.

[Celerity]

37. sorry, we are just going to have to agree to disagree on this one

cheers

[nsd]

45. Duckworth's father was American.

If Ted Cruz is eligible to be president, then Duckworth certainly is.

[counting]

46. not sure

I am not sure Tammy Duckworth is not eligible, shes born in thailand but with american parents

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_foreign-born_United_States_politicians

[Mariana]

48. Place of birth is not mentioned in the Constitution

as a requirement to hold the office of President.

[Laelth]

20. Very good question.

Sanders-Castro
Bloomberg-Klobuchar
Warren-Castro
Buttigieg-Abrams
Biden-Harris
Steyer-Warren
Klobuchar-Castro

Obviously, I think that Julian Castro is the best VP pick for a number of our candidates, but not for all of them.

We shall see what we see, but I note that this discussion is very premature. Much of the decisionmaking regarding VP picks will be reserved until the convention given the high chance that it may be brokered. Some candidates are going to be willing to "sell" their delegates for a VP nomination if nobody has a majority of delegates going into the convention.



-Laelth

[squirecam]

21. My choices

Joe/Amy
Warren/Brown
Sanders/Abrams
Pete/Booker
Bloomberg/Harris
Amy/Booker

[RestoreAmerica2020]

25. Ted Lieu would be great, yet he was born in Taiwan. Damn, would love for him to be our president!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Lieu&ved=2ahUKEwjMuZWlj_PnAhUrCTQIHfHWDV4QFjANegQICxAB&usg=AOvVaw0wsxtRh5ntoflftoB9Ofe7&cshid=1582854201297

[BusyBeingBest]

26. Bernie + Duckworth is good. Joe + Harris.

Bloomberg + Klobuchar or Harris.

[The empressof all]

36. I think Duckworth was born in Thailand

I love her and think she would be the best choice but I don't think she's eligible

[BusyBeingBest]

38. Wasn't her dad a US serviceman? If so she would be eligible.

[The empressof all]

39. I don't know off the top of my head...If so you are correct!

[underpants]

27. Stacey Abrams or Kamala

No woman of color on the ticket = kiss the election goodbye

[DonaldsRump]

29. My top VP choices for ANY of the D candidates

In no particular order: Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Adam Schiff

[brooklynite]

31. Um, the one that the nominee picks?

[Bucky]

49. ...

[kacekwl]

40. Buttigieg and

Sally Yates.

[Baked Potato]

42. My picks,

Biden/Abrams. Biden/Demmings. Biden/Beto

Bloomberg/Abrams. Bloomberg/Demmings

Amy/Booker. Amy/Abrams. Amy/Gillum

Buttigieg/Abrams. Buttigieg/Demmings

Warren/Castro. Warren/Beto. Warren/Gillum

Bernie/Beto. Bernie/Gillum

Wild card: Wesley Clark

[Doreen]

43. I have always thought Biden/Harris

would be good or Harris/Biden. I know the second would not happen but I like it anyway.

I would like a Biden/Warren or Warren/Biden ticket but I do not think that would happen.

I also think Warren/Buttigieg, Buttigieg/Warren, Biden/Buttigieg, or Buttigieg/Biden would be good.

I greatly prefer both a man and a woman being president and vice president but I would be fine with Buttigieg being in office with another man.

[Nanjeanne]

51. My choices

Sanders/Baldwin

Warren/Castro

Buttigieg/Warren

Biden/Harris

Klobuchar/Booker

Bloomberg/Abrams