VP Picks

I know people have said that the VP is not important - I think it could be a critical factor.  Yes, I know it could possibly add some scrutiny to the ticket - but better now then later.

Here are some match-ups I am thinking about:

Sanders/Gabbard

Buttigieg/Abrams

Warren/Castro

Klobachar/Booker

Biden/Harris

Bloomberg is a tricky one.  I'll pair him with Eric Holder for now.

The democratic ticket lost it's diversity - lets take it back now!  #announceyourrunningmate 

I don't think Sanders would choose Gabbard.  There's no electoral gain there and even he has to know that she is a crock of nuts.

Sanders/Harris would be a strong ticket as would Sanders/Klobacahr

I guess there is an alternate universe out there where Biden's VP pick is still relevant.  He already tried to recruit Stacy Abrams and she kicked him to the curb.

It's kind of early to speculate about VP, but given the way this is shaping up it may be whoever goes into the Convention with the second highest Delegate total.

STANV said:

It's kind of early to speculate about VP, but given the way this is shaping up it may be whoever goes into the Convention with the second highest Delegate total.

 I will be very surprised if Bernie Sanders is someone's VP pick.

Ok, so you think Bernie would actually take the VP role to Pete?  Or Bernie would take Pete as VP?  So much for diversity.

jamie said:

Ok, so you think Bernie would actually take the VP role to Pete?  Or Bernie would take Pete as VP?  So much for diversity.

 I don't think Bernie would take the VP role, I don't think anyone would select Bernie for the VP role and, what's more, Vermont has a Republican governor so choosing Bernie as VP would flip the most liberal Senatorial seat in the country, if the Dems win.

So, in a word, no.

As for a VP for Bernie, I think Klobuchar would be a better fit. She would balance the ticket and it would be great to have a woman a heartbeat away from the Oval Office.

bloomberg-booker  or klobochar

Anyone with Stacy, if she'd take it !

Dennis_Seelbach said:

Anyone with Stacy, if she'd take it !

 Did she reject the position in general or was it just the idea of running with Biden that failed to.... grab her?

Klinker said:

 I don't think Bernie would take the VP role, I don't think anyone would select Bernie for the VP role and, what's more, Vermont has a Republican governor so choosing Bernie as VP would flip the most liberal Senatorial seat in the country, if the Dems win.

So, in a word, no.

VT senatorial vacancies are filled by special election not gubernatorial appointment.  See 17 V.S.A. 2621.

I think that Stacey Abrams would be the best choice for any mail nominee.  For those who have not actually looked at her positions, she's not exactly in Progressive lane of the Democratic Party.  That said, she's really smart and practical.

Klinker said:

I guess there is an alternate universe out there where Biden's VP pick is still relevant.  He already tried to recruit Stacy Abrams and she kicked him to the curb.

I don't think that this is accurate.  I think that her view was it was too early to commit to a VP slot at the time Biden allegedly asked her.  I saw her speak in October and that is what she clearly intimated and not that she had turned Biden down.

jamie said:

I know people have said that the VP is not important - I think it could be a critical factor.  Yes, I know it could possibly add some scrutiny to the ticket - but better now then later.

Here are some match-ups I am thinking about:

Sanders/Gabbard

Buttigieg/Abrams

Warren/Castro

Klobachar/Booker

Biden/Harris

Bloomberg is a tricky one.  I'll pair him with Eric Holder for now.

The democratic ticket lost it's diversity - lets take it back now!  #announceyourrunningmate 

 Warren/Castro 

Klobuchar/ Booker

Not sure if Biden/ Harris would be a go after her pounce at him in the debates over bussing but, if she did, what a coup for him.

Bloomberg with either Harris, Klobuchar or Warren

Bernie/ Warren

Buttigieg/ Harris as both Warren and Klobuchar have gone after him.

Bloomberg/Steyer -- the most ticket that money can buy.

I"m surprised no-one has said Buttigieg / Klobuchar.  Maybe I'm the only one who sees it. 

Off the top of my head: Reagan/Bush, Kerry/Edwards, Obama/Biden. Since the advent of the modern primary system, have any other former rivals for the nomination teamed up?

anyone/Stacey Abrams

I can see Warren/Castro and Klobuchar/Booker.

I don't think Joe could pull off Biden/Harris

Not Sanders/Gabbard.  Bernie will have to go with someone to balance him, with a following, and I think that means Sanders/Klobuchar.  Not that his most devoted followers would like that.

Bernie is Bernie, he doesn't compromise -- I can't see him ever having an established moderate type on his ticket. And I think Klobuchar and most anyone else who has a following and would balance Bernie ideologically would never accept the VP slot, if it were offered. I just can't see Klobuchar going around trying to drum up support for national rent control or free college for all with full loan cancellation.  

political scientists who've studied the question have been unable to find any evidence of influence of running mates on voting patterns in the states.  So the discussions of VP choices are something of an inside baseball exercise for political junkies, but in the real world mostly meaningless.

That said, if 78-year-old  Sanders ends up being the nominee, I have to believe his VP pick will be of some importance to voters.  I'd also be very surprised if Bernie chose a centrist running mate.  If something were to happen that prevented him from completing his term, I don't think he'd want someone backing away from his "revolution."  I'd think he might pick Warren, or someone on the left who didn't even run for president this year.

ml1 said:

political scientists who've studied the question have been unable to find any evidence of influence of running mates on voting patterns in the states.  So the discussions of VP choices are something of an inside baseball exercise for political junkies, but in the real world mostly meaningless.

That said, if 78-year-old  Sanders ends up being the nominee, I have to believe his VP pick will be of some importance to voters.  I'd also be very surprised if Bernie chose a centrist running mate.  If something were to happen that prevented him from completing his term, I don't think he'd want someone backing away from his "revolution."  I'd think he might pick Warren, or someone on the left who didn't even run for president this year.

 We're still not sure if any candidate is going to get a clear majority of elected delegates.  The nomination would then be a compromise, and VP pick could be part of that.

Just heard this today - Bloomberg and Hillary. Hillary was asked (supposedly ) and might very well accept if given the opportunity.

galileo said:

Just heard this today - Bloomberg and Hillary. Hillary was asked (supposedly ) and might very well accept if given the opportunity.

 might be the worst possible ticket the Dems could come up with.

I don't believe HRC would accept VP.  Why would she?

ETA:  AG, maybe.  So that she could F^&* up Trump. 

Red_Barchetta said:

I don't believe HRC would accept VP.  Why would she?

ETA:  AG, maybe.  So that she could F^&* up Trump. 

O

M

Wowza.

I love this plan. This is a good plan.

Nope. Better one.

AG Kamala Harris.

Special Counsel Hilary Clinton.

Lovely to contemplate!  but it would look too much like "payback" instead of just deserts.

Just for “deserts,” mjc, you have my vote.

galileo said:

Just heard this today - Bloomberg and Hillary. Hillary was asked (supposedly ) and might very well accept if given the opportunity.

 Ridiculous. And not just because they are both from the same State.

If the VP candidate is not Black or Latino it will be a problem. 

STANV said:

 Ridiculous. And not just because they are both from the same State.

If the VP candidate is not Black or Latino it will be a problem. 

 I think he needs a female VP. 

Harris,I really like that pick, 

Klobuchar and Warren have been pretty agressive against him. Kamala, dropping out and not endorsing, makes her open for offers.

Except for Clinton-Gore the Democratic ticket has always had a geographic balance.