Did Kamala Harris toss any chance at a possible VP selection if Biden gets the nomination?

[madville]

Do you think the Biden team will consider Harris as VP after the negative attacks?

I think she is taking an all or nothing approach and is not interested in VP now, it's either get the Presidential nomination or stay a Senator.

[Turin_C3PO]

1. I think he still might pick her as VP.

Last edited Sat Jun 29, 2019, 03:49 PM - Edit history (1)

A lot of things get said in primaries that are hurtful to one candidate or another. By the end, I think most forgive each other and move forward.

[StarfishSaver]

30. Boom!

[Celerity]

44. in the OP's defence he did say IF Biden gets the nod

Massive if, in my book.

[Turin_C3PO]

52. I was just answering the OP question.

But yes, Kamala Harris could definitely be the nominee. I doubt Biden would be VP again, though you never know.

[aeromanKC]

57. Would rather see Harris pick Biden for SOS

Powerhouse ticket: Harris/anybody (the field is so strong so many great choices would be great) with Biden SOS

[karynnj]

69. I don't think he would be the SoS, unless the position is different than foreither HRC or Kerry

In some ways, that job with the constant travel is tougher than the VP position he had and in physical terms may be harder than President. Go back and look at how exhausted Hillary was even 2 years in. If you watched the Final Year, you would see how Kerry seemed to use every ounce of energy he had -- and he is younger than Biden even now and extremely athletic - and Biden would start 4 years later.

I hope that whoever wins, picks someone like Wendy Sherman as Secretary and then - as in Obama's first term - uses many senior people as special envoys where they fit best - possibly including Kerry, Biden and Clinton -- and even Obama as a VERY special envoy. There will be a need to reset a lot of areas.

[Demsrule86]

97. Harris won't win the states we need. Thus, sadly Trump will be picking people for another four years

should she win the nomination. I will of course vote for her but...

[gldstwmn]

141. In the meantime you'll continue to spread

the false narrative that she and the others can't win. This is why we're stuck folks.

[Me.]

66. That Was My Thought Too

[Cha]

127. This is my thought, Me..

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=180877

[Me.]

147. That's A Big Word....IF

It is applicable all over the place....we are in huge IF territory right now, about everything.

Hoa

[Cha]

153. I know! I feel like

I'm walking on a Tight Rope! Well said!

Hoaaloha!

[Cha]

125. The OP said IF Biden gets the Nom.. of course

he wouldn't get chosen if Kamala wins the nom.

Joe Biden has already been an excellent VP under President Obama.

[smooth64]

144. Your assuming he's going to be the nominee

[Turin_C3PO]

146. No, I was just answering the OP's hypothetical.

[brush]

154. I don't think she's interested in second place.

And btw, look at the age of all the last five Dem presidents. We win when we go young. LBJ was the oldest and he was in his 60s the rest were in their 40s and 50s.

[tulipsandroses]

2. All the candidates are running for President of the USA

I think it has been incredibly sexist to think of the women as VP

[Celerity]

45. well IF the top of the ticket is male (deffo NOT a sure thing) then I so hope a female is picked as

VP. IF Biden is the nominee, I think the smart play would be Abrams, as that potentially puts GA, NC, FL REALLY into the realm of possibility.

[gldstwmn]

72. Yes. Can we stop putting men in the top seats

and put a qualified woman in there for once?

[Celerity]

83. If Pete falters, my next 2 choices by far, in order, are Harris and Warren

I would love to see Pete as either Harris or Warren's VP. Or Sec of State.

[gldstwmn]

89. He is absolutely qualified. I loved the way he took ownership

of the police shooting situation. Despite what some of his detractors say I think he is absolutely mature enough and would be very good on foreign policy. He might make an excellent pick for SoS also.

[Demsrule86]

102. Not when they are winning no we can't. And there are polls showing women will face a 20 to 30 %

lower vote than a man...not sure any woman can win the presidency this year...and it is too important an election to take chances.

[gldstwmn]

107. Road to 270 has Harris and Warren beating Trump in the general.

Why is it that the majority of Biden supporters are stuck with that "can't win" mentality? They only way we are going to change is if we can imagine a way to win.

[Demsrule86]

117. Sorry...I don't buy it. Oh they might win the popular vote but not the blue wall states.

[gldstwmn]

140. They also have most of our

male cadidates beating him too. Yes, I know Biden is the only one who can WIN.

[delisen]

151. Which polls are those show 20-30 % lower vote for women than man?

can't find them online. do you have a reference?

[treestar]

76. that's absurd

if a male wins, it is not sexist to pick a female VP.

[tulipsandroses]

84. What is absurd - is the assumption that a male will be the nominee/winner-

The argument has been framed as such from the start

I don't hear us talking about who the women should pick as their VP

[treestar]

86. The OP is just making a hypothetical and in that hypothetical

there is a male winner. The OP did not say a thing about gender.

[Demsrule86]

98. Biden is way ahead in the polls, and the OP can frame anyway he/she choses.

I say if he is the nominee, she will not be the VP.

[Cha]

128. The OP Clearly said "IF" Biden were the nominee.

[bluewater]

3. Is it just me? Does this all smell bad?

Is their something off putting about so many Biden supporters pushing for a Biden/Harris ticket?

They have been doing this for weeks now.

There's just this whiff of presumption and paternalism to me, but I am probably just too sensitive to issues regarding diminishing women's roles as political leaders.

[samnsara]

6. actually i was pushing for a biden /harris ticket..until the debates...BOTH

..nights showed me Warren is a much better pick for veep than Harris.

[madville]

16. I would agree with that as well n/t

[SidDithers]

41. Agreed...

Warren would be great as Harris’ VP.

Sid

[gldstwmn]

75. The collective mind loss of certain individuals in this country

if that were to happen would be oh so much fun to watch.

[tulipsandroses]

19. Its not just you

I was also annoyed with the Stacey as VP as well, as if Stacey would not have been a formidable candidate on her own.


You are not being too sensitive. We do live in a paternalistic, misogynistic society.

[LakeArenal]

28. I don't know if stuff smells but,

I think I remember a pretty snarky no fromHarris regarding being VP.

[John Fante]

55. It's just you.

Joe has been the clear frontrunner for months now, it's understandable (if premature) that people are looking ahead to the GE.

If Kamala vaults to the lead and people are still asking if she's VP material, you'll have a better argument that sexism is at play.

[redstateblues]

58. Oh please

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

78. Why don't we wait to see who the nominee is first?

Choosing a VP at this point seems like a waste of energy.

[gldstwmn]

81. It's more like a parlor game at this point.

[customerserviceguy]

129. Also

it ignores the simple fact that a nominee picking an also-ran for the VP slot is far more often the exception than the rule.

[emulatorloo]

67. It's just you. Biden supporters apparently like Harris, that's a good thing.

Still waiting for a wonderful positive post about Warren from you.

[gldstwmn]

70. I agree with you. Harris doesn't want to be VP

but she thanks the Biden supporters for their consideration.

[treestar]

77. huh?

She is younger and less experienced, period. Any of them save Bernie could be Biden's VP. Maybe he will do like Hillary and Obama pick none of them.

[gldstwmn]

80. Biden was running against Obama in the 2004 primaries.

Tim Kaine was a dud as a VP pick.

[Demsrule86]

99. Nothing to do with any of that...she stabbed Biden in the back using tactics that some view as

unfair...and better suited in a general against a member of the opposing party.

[mainstreetonce]

4. I think Joe knows better

If she is in second one standing and he wins,I think he works with her.


He can get along with uglier people . He will do whatever will beat Trump if nominated.

Would she accept it? Probably counting on Joe being one term,she goes for it.

[gldstwmn]

79. We haven't elected a VP to the presidency in almost

30 years and he was a one term. Our political system has changed quite a bit since then.

[treestar]

87. We did in 2000.

[gldstwmn]

90. Yes. Hence the changes in our political system.

It's hacked.

[Demsrule86]

100. I don't think that is true...and I would argue that Gore won.

[mcar]

93. Uglier people?

Are you referring to Senator Harris as ugly, re her personality?

[mainstreetonce]

109. No not at all

I meant he says he worked with segregationists.

I didn't mean to imply anything about Kamela.
Poor choice of words.

[mcar]

110. Thank you for clarifying

[Politicub]

5. All is fair in love and internecine party politics

There will be a woman at the top of the ticket. But nothing is going to disqualify anyone at this stage from a VP spot.

Biden could do some sort of mea culpa and he and Harris hug it out.

[33taw]

7. They despise Trump first and foremost.

They will do whatever it takes to win. Primary season is hard.

[ooky]

8. I don't think Biden would be that petty.

I believe he would choose a candidate he believes can help him win the general. But I don't think at this point he would choose Harris, given her position on MFA.

[Demsrule86]

101. It is not about being petty...she stabbed him in the back and you have to trust your VP...Also

what does she bring to a ticket? She is from California so...no geography...what does she bring? Better Stach Abrams or Castro ...Georgia and Texas are states we might get...I would include Beto but two white guys? That might not be a great idea.

[ooky]

118. I'm not sure they have ever had the kind

of closeness in their working relationship to characterize Harris' attack as a back stabbing but I would call it a low blow, and unnecessary, and not what we need as a party if our primary objective is to get Trump out. I just don't see how she would compliment Joe as part of his ticket as long as they are opposed to one another on the issue of health care. Besides, he wants to win, and anyone campaigning on taking away employer insurance and replacing it by jumping straight to MFA is just going to drag the ticket down. Before today I had narrowed down my choices to Joe or Pete. But after hearing MSNBC's unrelenting bashing of Joe for over 3 hours straight in the background this morning I shut it off in disgust and decided I'm going to go with Joe. For a running mate I think he should absolutely make a diverse pick.

[Demsrule86]

122. I agree. She brings nothing to the ticket and would drag him down...klobachar would be better or

Beto ...maybe Castro...don't remember their stance on MFA...Stacy Abrams is great too.

[ooky]

123. Stacy Abrams with Joe

= slam dunk IMHO.

[Demsrule86]

124. She would be great...and maybe deliver Georgia.

[flor-de-jasmim]

9. Hey, Obama picked Biden even after made the comment about Obama being articulate. One never knows.

[customerserviceguy]

131. There was a difference

Joe Biden was trying to be positive about Barack Obama, but he did so in an extremely clumsy way. Obama was gracious enough to see that.

Sen. Harris was trying to make Biden out as some kind of racist, even though she prefaced her with, "I don't believe you are a racist, BUT". That's a personal insult of a high degree in the Democratic Party. Even when Bush the Elder called Ronald Reagan's prosperity plan "voodoo economics", it was maligning the plan, not the man.

[SouthernProgressive]

10. She is seeking the office of the Presidency.

She is not campaigning for a different position.

[yardwork]

11. I don't think that Biden will be our nominee.

[Autumn]

12. No. She increased her chances of being the nominee.

[crazytown]

13. JFK / LBJ

Winning is winning.

[customerserviceguy]

133. Back then

when JFK picked LBJ, it was the decision of men in smoke-filled rooms who made that choice. We don't have that anymore, hopefully. However, if the nomination goes to a second or later ballot, then the super-delegates might just want to force a compromise of that nature.

[TreasonousBastard]

14. Veep selections have little to do with qualifications or relationships...

Eisenhower didn't like or trust Nixon, but Nixon brought votes with certain Republican groups.

Agnew? Palin?

During WWII, FDR said maybe three words to Truman. Of course, Truman was only VP for three months when FDR died.

If Biden gets the nod, his people will carefully add up all the points for any VP choice, and if Harris looks like she'll help, all things are forgiven and she'll be asked. Then she calculates between taking the job and staying in the Senate.

[marylandblue]

25. Modern VPs get actual jobs to do. Gore, Cheney and Biden were all pretty busy.

Pence is an exception, but even he gets a call once in a while.

[TreasonousBastard]

34. This is true, but just adds more complication to the selection process.

[marylandblue]

35. Yes that's true, but it makes a Harris pick less likely.

Klobuchar is better as she matches his dealmaking tendencies and helps cement the Midwest, or Abrams who helps cement the AA vote and could help pick off one or two southern states.

[TreasonousBastard]

37. Yup. That's the way they think when picking a Veep. And since I don't have the data...

or the time, I'm not speculating too much on Veep choices when we still have a year to pick a candidate.

[customerserviceguy]

134. That is exactly correct

The Veepstakes is something to think about once a candidate locks up enough votes for a first ballot victory.

[Skya Rhen]

15. I would not be happy with Harris on the ticket. She is no Biden, who never undermined Obama. She

would not hesitate to undermine Biden as VP. When someone shows you who they are, believe them...

[brush]

47. Sorry, but Biden bought this on himself with an unforced error.

What the hell was he doing bringing up his relationship with segregationists from forty years ago? No one would be talking about this if he hadn't resurected ancient history about long-forgotten racist senators.

No one to blame but himself. He's got to learn to avoid mine fields of his own creation. His supporters are in for a long campaign holding their breath and hoping he doesn't commit more unforced errors.

[gldstwmn]

85. Segragationists, busing, the NRA...

What's next? Anita Hill?

[brush]

92. I know, right? He doesn't need to bring up new ones no one has even heard of.

[gldstwmn]

94. I have a feeling he's going to. He said so many

random things the other night.

[yerop]

17. Yes. But she could still be in the White House--as a great Attorney General. nt

[mtnsnake]

18. You should be asking if Biden ruined his chances of becoming Harris's VP if she gets the nomination

although I highly doubt she'd pick Biden over someone like Buttigieg, Klobuchar, O'Rourke, or Bullock.

[Skya Rhen]

20. Lol

[loyalsister]

61. My thoughts too

Another question would be did we discover another reason why he does not represent the future. When he joined with legislators whose opposition to bussing was based on the preservation of segregation he promoted a policy that might have been a barrier to women who want or have wanted to be on that stage.
His calculus appears to be based on an assumption that anti-bussing stories will outweigh success stories.
It says a lot about whose opinions he listens to and values. The anti-bussing sentiment naturally includes the voices of the loudest segregationists.
He might have offered a caveat that he should also have countered them with initiatives for major federal investments in schools in locales that did not have a large enough property tax base to generate equitable funding for schools.

[Zambero]

21. Not if past history is any indication

Kennedy-Johnson is the classic example.

[madville]

24. Not even remotely comparable

Kennedy picked a Southern Christian to counter balance him being a Northeastern Catholic. He also wanted Johnson out of the Senate were he was Majority Leader.

Harris brings no benefits or clout like that to a Biden ticket as a junior Senator from California, she would actually be more of a liability in swing states based on current polling.

[ancianita]

23. Of course they'd consider her. Biden himself wld show her presidential skills to be his successor.

[donkeypoofed]

26. Nah, 18 months is a long time

Besides these two have already moved on. They could work together easily. And she'd be the smarter of the two!

[Honeycombe8]

27. Maybe. But I'm pretty sure Biden doesn't want to be VP again. nt

[AlexSFCA]

32. I believe he is not eligible to be VP again per constitution

[Honeycombe8]

115. I don't see that restriction in Wikipedia.

The President has a two-term restriction. There is no restriction on the VP, that I saw. In fact, it looks like Obama could be Biden's VP! LOL.

erm of office
The term of office for both the vice president and the president is four years. While the Twenty-Second Amendment generally restricts the president to two terms,[55] there is no such limitation on the office of vice president, meaning an eligible person could hold the office as long as voters continued to vote for electors who in turn would reelect the person to the office; one could even serve under different presidents. This has happened twice: George Clinton (1805–1812) served under both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison; and John C. Calhoun (1825–1832) served under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.[17] Additionally, neither the Constitution's eligibility provisions nor the Twenty-second Amendment's presidential term limit explicitly disqualify a twice-elected president from serving as vice president. As of the 2016 election cycle however, no former president has tested the amendment's legal restrictions or meaning by running for the vice presidency.

[customerserviceguy]

136. Obama could not be Biden's VP

The VP has to meet the same qualifications as a person to be elected President. As Barack Obama has served two terms as President, he is no longer eligible to be President, and thus, is not qualified Constitutionally to be VP.

It is true that the 22nd Amendment has not been tested, but I could easily see a unanimous vote to uphold every letter of the law, and the spirit of it, too.

[Honeycombe8]

149. Wiki says not. The constitutional restriction is limited to the office of the President.

The Prez cannot be elected to a third time.

The person who was Prez CAN be elected as VP on a ticket. But not as Prez.

If the constitution meant that the person who had been Prez twice couldn't be elected to the administration again, it would have said so. It would have been easy to say that, but it did not.

But I don't think it'd ever happen. Top execs don't normally come back as juniors. A huge step down. And they make beaucoup money as former Presidents.

[StarfishSaver]

29. I think her chances are actually better now

[LakeArenal]

31. Why would any primary winner necessarily choose any of the opposing candidates forVP

Stacey Abrahams. Katie Porter. Al Franken.
Adam Schiff. Juan Castro. I’m sure there are a dozen or more great non-primary possibilities.

[gldstwmn]

73. Kerry/Edwards?

Sure they didn't win but it's not unprecedented.

[LakeArenal]

82. Not the idea of it, the constant supposition that it would be a primary contender selected for VP.

There are so many great unsung Dems that are just as qualified for VP as any primary candidate.

[Honeycombe8]

116. No one knows who Abrahams and Porter are.

Franken's damage is too recent, unfortunately. Schiff is needed where he is. Juan Castro? Why?

The reason:

The VP usually brings with him/her some cache'. Bringing in a needed state, already has a base of supporters to bring along, campaign money to add to the pot, the VP represents an area of the country that the President does not, is good on the campaign trail to rally for the ticket, popular w/the party base.

Doesn't have to be one of the others. But they usu. choose someone with one or more of the things listed above.

[highplainsdem]

33. Don't know, and at this point don't particularly care.

[RandySF]

36. No

[Fiendish Thingy]

38. Don't care - she would make a better AG than VP if not the nominee nt

[Irishxs]

39. Harris shouldn't settle for less than the top seat.

[Demsrule86]

103. I agree...we need her in the Senate.

[SidDithers]

40. She's not running for VP...nt

Sid

[helpisontheway]

42. Zero chance of her being VP after that stunt (which included printed shirts)nt

[Baclava]

43. She won't be riding in the back of Joe's bus, won't happen n/t

[MineralMan]

46. No. Not really. The VP choice will be made on strategic grounds.

What can the VP nominee bring to the general election results? That is the only question that needs to be answered.

Squabbles during the primary race can be overcome, unless they are very egregious and hurtful.

[floppyboo]

48. Oh my goodness! Would Biden accept VP again is the better question.

Kamala should not be VP. If she doesn't win, she should be AG. VP should go to someone who is a place holder, someone like Biden.

[floppyboo]

49. Biden should learn from Hillary's mistakes and choose from a group he is not appealing to

Obama didn't choose Biden to lock up the AA vote. He chose him because he appealed to white working middle class.
Biden needs to look where he is failing, and go there - youth for example. So that would be Bernie

[wyldwolf]

50. "Turn that shit on Pence and you're hired." - Joe Biden, sometime in 2020.

[applegrove]

51. We have grown ups in our party. Obama hired Biden as VP and Clinton

as SOS. Both of whom he ran against. Biden, or whoever wins the nom, will choose the best VP candidate there is.

[Auggie]

53. Yes, though I never considered it a possibility n/t

[Baltimike]

54. Nope. I think she showed she's tough. nt

[backscatter712]

56. Remember, when the TV cameras are off, they all know each other.

So the social dynamic is more like this:

[RHMerriman]

59. No. With the "if" caveat, Biden is smart enough to pick a VP nominee who brings something to the

No. With the "if" caveat, Biden is smart enough to pick a VP nominee who brings something to the ticket.

Harris brings being a woman, youth, AA AND IA heritage/connections, and a reputation (whether deserved or not) as being a tough on crime ex-prosecutor.

Does that help in the South and/or Midwest? Possibly.

Does it help enough? Remains to be seen.

[Turbineguy]

60. I doubt it.

She's good.

[Merlot]

62. Doubtful she was ever interested in VP

However, if it were politically necessary for Biden, he would manage it just fine.

[tishaLA]

64. She's not running for VP. Her staff has always found the idea insulting

Besides, she'd be a terrible choice for him. Stacy Abrams would be a much better choice

[karynnj]

65. No.... if she is seen as the VP who could most help him win, she will be picked

Not to mention, Biden needs to think of who he can best run the country with. I suspect that he will want to pick a woman because there really is a hunger to have a woman on the ticket. That may be Kamala.

[emulatorloo]

71. Agreed, and Biden knows the game, attacks are "just politics"

[gldstwmn]

68. It doesn't matter because I think she will wait for the next election cycle to

come around for a shot at the presidency. I don't think she is interested in becoming anyone's VP. She is a doer and VP is more of a diplomatic role.

[treestar]

74. No, this is not the way most of these people are

Biden got picked as VP even after his usual gaffes.

Obama picked Hillary as SOS even after numerous attacks.

They at least seem to know how to put it aside once the General Election campaign is underway.

No one will be talking about this by the end of next week, when the next thing happens.

[mr_liberal]

88. I don't think it does lessen her chances of being Biden's vp

In fact it probably helps because she would bring along the black vote now.

I think she has always seemed like she's maybe not black enough so she took the opportunity in the debate to remedy that. I don't think Biden would hold that against her if she can help him win. She can drive black turnout now.

[mcar]

91. Of course she didnt

It was one debate. Geez. Let's get a grip here.

[LakeArenal]

95. I disliked Harris all along. I wouldn't want her as Pres or VP

As much as I dislike her, I think she would make a great attorney general.

[Demsrule86]

96. Yes, you have to have a VP you can trust.

[Miles Archer]

104. Back before he announced his intention to run...

...there was talk...and sorry, I don't have the source...of him seeking election for one term, in order to unseat Trump, and that's it. The assumption would be that his VP would run for the presidency at the end of the second term.

I haven't seen that mentioned SINCE he announced, so I have no idea if it was ever set in stone or even still being considered.

If it is, it would make all the sense in the world to ask her to run as VP, if he makes it to the nomination.

[gldstwmn]

142. Oh hell no. Either commit to two terms

or exit the race (if its true.)

[Miles Archer]

145. Yes, but as I said, this was chatter before he announced his run...

...and I've not seen it mentioned anywhere since. So he's not running with that announced intention.

[gldstwmn]

148. That's why I qualified my statement with "if it's true."

[Grasswire2]

105. Of course.

That was my first thought.

[stopbush]

106. I don't think Biden is going to win the nomination.

Probably a moot point.

[Demsrule86]

119. Well mark this post ...save it because if what you say is true ...on a cold January day, Trump will

be sworn in to a second term. We have to take MI, WI and PA...and none of the other candidates will do this.

[demosincebirth]

108. You bet!

[Curky]

111. Probably not

Biden would benefit from a Kamala VP nomination.

[emmaverybo]

130. She is never going to play second fiddle, which a VP must. He knows a lot of people. He is not

restricted to a field of rivals.

[jalan48]

112. I don't think she was being considered and she knows it. Klobuchar would help Biden more in the

crucial Midwest States and California will go Democrat anyway.

[madville]

113. I think my argument to that point would be that Warren

could bring in some of the Bernie people with her economic message.

[jalan48]

114. I would definitely prefer Warren.

[Demsrule86]

120. We need voters from moderate states...

[emmaverybo]

132. Some refuse to concede this fact. The are impressed by policies, a candidate's style; they want a

this or a that, but I seldom find DUers considering the electoral map or recognizing that much
of America is not politically in the progressive bubble.

[jcgoldie]

135. Why would Warren want to be VP?

For that matter why would Harris?

[gldstwmn]

143. Because they're women and can't win.

[madville]

150. Why would anyone?

I'm sure most people that accept it have a motive, like using it as a stepping stone to run for President. Harris is young enough for that career path, Warren not so much. You're right though, Warren specifically may not be interested in it, but a candidate like her would benefit Biden's ticket much more than a candidate like Harris.

[BlueWI]

121. Who knows?

It might matter if or when Biden wins and if or when that's Harris's preference.

For now, ?????

[Hoyt]

126. Not sure she's interested. It's not like she needs a job.

[shanti]

137. Fortunately, we can afford to lose her as a senator

here in CA, should she be elected or appointed to a higher position. There are lots of rising stars who could take her place.

[Liberty Belle]

138. I'd rather see a Warren-Harris ticket.

Warren has been consistently strong and can win some midwestern states like Oklahoma and rust-belt states where her messages resonates, as Bernie's did in 2006. Harris will help pull more minority votes and the west coast. Both will shred Trump and Pence in debates, and get women to turn out in droves.

[emmaverybo]

139. The message is a laundry list of huge-ticket items many Americans fear. NT

[democratisphere]

152. Possible strong VP candidate before.

No consideration at all for her now.