Biden Sweeps Primaries & It's Time Speculate on His Running Mate

Former Vice-President Joe Biden swept to victory in Florida, Illinois and Arizona yesterday, by large margins, and Sen. Bernie Sanders is under increasing pressure today to accept the inevitable and suspend his campaign.

Washington Post: "Amid growing Democratic pressure to end his candidacy, Sanders will “be having conversations with supporters to assess his campaign,” according to his campaign manager. But the aide gave no firm timetable for the senator’s decision, and signaled that it might not come imminently."

Sanders may remain in the race for a few more weeks, but Biden should turn his attention to the Fall election and focus on the coronavirus crisis, selecting a running mate, and defeating Donald Trump.

Biden's promise to name a female running mate has focused speculation on about a dozen candidates and each will receive a lot of scrutiny over the next 60-90 days. The early favorite is Sen. Kamala Harris of CA, but there is some pressure on Biden to select Sen. Elizabeth Warren to unite the moderate and progressive wings of the Democratic party. And, Biden has several other well qualified candidates to choose from.

Politico: "The array of choices in play, according to Biden advisers and allies, reflects the competing forces bearing down on Biden as he looks to the general election. Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren are top names. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto are also in the mix."

Bill Scher handicapped 12 potential running mates yesterday in a Politico article. He thinks that Kamala Harris would be Biden's best choice, but another candidate stuck out on his list, Rep. Val Demings of Florida.

Politico: ... "In her favor: national prominence after serving as a House impeachment manager, a law-and-order background from her 3 1/2 years as Orlando police chief, an up-from-bootstraps biography as the daughter of a janitor and a maid, and potential vote-getting ability in the swingiest part of the swing state of Florida."

She has some negatives, as do all politicians, but she could help Biden capture Florida, all but assuring his victory in November. Jonathan Capehart did an interview with her and you can hear the Podcast on the Washington Post.

We will highlight the careers of Biden's other potential running mates in the coming weeks.

#news #2020election

By: Don Lam & Curated Content