Possible VP selections

[LonePirate]

I was just brainstorming some scenarios of who should be selected as the running mate should any of the current Top Five candidates win the nomination. I think our ticket needs racial diversity (both members cannot be white, for instance, with one exception). Also, I think need we need some gender diversity as well (no two cis men, for example, apart from two exceptions). I simply think these selections offer us the best chance to win, not that the candidates (especially Sanders) would agree with me.

Biden, Sanders and Buttigieg: All three need someone like Harris. She brings both racial and gender diversity to their tickets and we need to cast the widest net as possible.

Harris: In keeping with the above framing, someone like Buttigieg (or maybe Inslee) casts the widest net as that ticket. However, a bold choice would be adding Warren to her ticket. Two powerful and knowledgeable women going against 45 would make a strong case for a change in our country’s direction. Anybody even remotely opposed to two women being on a ticket was never going to vote for a Dem ticket even if two white men were on it.

Warren: Booker or Castro seem like the obvious diversity/balance choices here. Buttigieg could work as well so long as Warren continues to run strongly with black women. However, I think Warren’s best choice would be Harris. A ticket with the two of them would be unstoppable for the reasons cited above. This historic ticket (along with Harris/Warren) would mobilize women, minorities, youth and college-educated voters - all groups we need to turn out in huge numbers if we want to win.

[Doreen]

1. At this time I am not to concerned about vice

except that I feel we need both a man and a woman despit which one is president. I really do not think this country is ready for both president and vice president to be women.

[DownriverDem]

2. A Formidable

ticket: Biden/Harris Harris would then be seen in a leadership position. She would then be positioned to be the next President. Americans lag behind with it comes to women leaders.

[Indygram]

3. My prediction is that the ticket will be...

Beto/Abrams

[left-of-center2012]

6. Dreamers can dream n/t

[Indygram]

13. Jimmy Carter was polling at 1% at this time in his primary

It's very early, the majority of people aren't even paying attention yet. There are also some people polling higher who are struggling to find campaign staff and who are sorely understaffed in the early states. Polls mean nothing this early other than to offer a false sense of security for some and a premature celebration for their supporters...but I digress.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

16. Probably not, but it would be fun to see very tall Beto debating Trump

and looming over him, like Trump did to Hillary.

[Indygram]

23. Yes, Trump is obsessed with height

And Beto is the only one significantly taller than Trump. It will drive him nuts that there is no way he can make himself look as tall as or taller than Beto.

[uawchild]

4. Beto O'Rourke. Since he's likely to accept it...

Not holding a current political office and being super popular in a big state.....

BETO would make a great VP for virtually any ticket.

He's young, smart, charismatic, photogenic, a tireless campaigner.

He could deliver Texas, he really could. And with Texas, wait for it.... Trump is Toast.

Beto would deliver a huge state that otherwise we probably would not win when push comes to shove in 2020.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. If the nominee is Biden (somewhat likely) or Bernie (not so likely),

now you've got a ticket of two white guys, which might not be the way to go these days.

[uawchild]

18. hmm. good point

[LonePirate]

20. He would make a good VP choice for Harris. I just wish he was running for Senate, though.

We have plenty of good people to put on a ticket. We have very few good people to run for the Senate seat in Texas.

[TexasBushwhacker]

25. Cornyn will be harder to beat than Cruz

I think he made the right choice, but I would like to see him as the VP candidate.

[Indygram]

24. I've heard many people from Texas saying that it will take Beto at the top to take Texas

With Trump's nonsense threats of sanctions that will hurt Texas and dying children and horrendous conditions and abuses at the border I think it would be enough to take Texas. Since Beto helped get more Democrats elected there may be less ballot shenanigans too.

[mtnsnake]

5. Biden would be a good VP running mate for President Harris, President Buttigieg or President Warren

He's got plenty of VP experience, and his charisma would certainly add a lot to anyone's ticket. Plus, there are no term limits for vice presidents, so he could hold that office again.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. I don't think he'd want it; he's already had that job.

Anyhow, typically a nominee will choose a younger running mate because the VP has to take over if the president can't serve (and that person would also have an advantage in a future election). Most would not be likely to pick a 77-year-old running mate as their backup - and Delaware has only 3 electoral votes.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. The running mate doesn't necessarily have to be one of the current candidates.

In fact, I'd rather whoever the nominee is would choose someone who isn't a sitting senator. We need to keep as many Senate seats as possible.

[uawchild]

8. Beto O'Rourke

Think about it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. He'd be a possibility, of course, but I'm just saying that the nominee should not feel limited

to the current candidates - even those who are not Senators.

[uawchild]

10. understood

I am sorta targeting electoral college votes, since, as we all know too well, having a ticket that wins the popular vote isn't always enough.

Texas is a big prize that isn't safely in the Democratic column. Is there anyone you have in mind that could also deliver electoral votes?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. I haven't really thought about it -

it's going to depend on who gets the nomination. Harris would probably land California.

[FloridaBlues]

26. Have to agree it doesn't have to be any of current candidates perhaps a female Governor

[karynnj]

15. The Harris Buttigieg combination is interesting

My first thought was that Harris, like Obama 2008, could benefit from a very experienced, especially in foreign policy VP. However, on second thought -Buttigieg was in military intelligence. He also would run circles around Mike Pence! The other problem was who could Harris' "Biden" be - certainly not Biden himself. The only interesting combination I could think of is Harris/Kerry - as he would cover both climate change and environmental issues, national security, and foreign policy. However, it would be more reasonable if he were 20 years younger!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. I'd love to watch very smart Buttigeig debate very dumb homophobe Mike Dense.

[Celerity]

19. +10000

[DesertRat]

22. I would too. nt

[customerserviceguy]

21. Way too early for speculation on that

and please remember, a nominee selecting an also-ran as a VP nominee is very much the exception rather than the rule.