Shapiro? Buttigieg? Why Harris should pick -- or pass over -- contenders for VP

[phoenix_rising]

A decision is expected by Tuesday.

Politico
Adam Wren
08/02/2024 10:00 AM EDT

“It really does come down to a political calculus,” said former Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, a veteran of two Democratic veepstakes, including Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, where he finished behind Joe Biden and Sen. Tim Kaine. “The modern thinking is you reinforce your message and you do things at the macro level.”

It’s a media play as much as an electoral one. The last time a vice presidential pick was widely seen as helping the ticket carry a state was when Lyndon Johnson helped bring in Texas voters for John F. Kennedy in 1960. Still, as Bayh put it, “You don’t get bonus electors for running up the score in California.”

If Harris is looking for help in a swing state, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro or Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly would fit the bill. Of course, Harris might also prioritize choosing a partner who can help her govern — someone like Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, with his extensive relations in Congress, or Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, with his record working in the domestic policy machinery of the executive branch.

Here, a list of reasons for Harris to pick — or pass over — each candidate widely viewed as on her short list.

A pro and con list for Shapiro, Kelly, Walz, Buttigieg, and Beshear follow ⬇️
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/02/harris-vp-pick-list-pros-cons-00172063

[LilElf70]

1. My vote is for Buttigieg

[phoenix_rising]

3. Same here!!!!! 💯

IMHO Pete is the best choice by far!!! 🔥



Harris/Buttigieg 2024! 💙🇺🇸

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Walz.

[global1]

4. Thinking About These Reasons To Pick Or Pass On Any Of These Candidates Is Exactly What The Repugs.....

and Tr**p campaign is doing at the same time -- knowing that these are the ones being considered for Kamala's VP.

So when whomever from this bunch of VP candidates is chosen - the Repugs and Tr**p will be ready with their strategies and barbs to discredit them.

What would be a real neat play is for Kamala to pick a person that was not listed in any of the lists going around in the media - and completely take the Repugs and Tr**p off their game.

Come up with someone that they didn't have enough time to analyze and pick apart.

Essentially - surprise them like Joe did by stepping down and endorsing Kamala.

Look as to how that worked for the Dems.

Just a thought here!!!

[phoenix_rising]

7. Love the idea, and IMHO anyone but Pete would need it

That’s part of what makes Pete the best pick. He can take the most vile barb they’ve got and turn it around on them like a Jedi Master, while remaining likable and leaving them humiliated. His talent for this is legendary! I hope they bring everything they have, because they don’t stand a chance against him. They can prepare ahead of time all they want, but it won’t make a shred of difference. Pete will be their worst nightmare.

[notemason]

8. Someone said the VP should be a pit bull

so for a surprise how about Michael Rappaport? He would light up the R's like a Roman candle.

[phoenix_rising]

10. Apparently Rappaport said he's not voting for Kamala

I know, I can’t believe it either.

I agree that we need a pit bull. Pete is the best, most vicious pit bull we have, by far. He’s a real gift to our party, and we should put his talents to good use on the ticket! He’s brilliant, accomplished, charming, young, good looking, charismatic. He’s the whole package!

[notemason]

14. My suggestion was an attempt at humor

And what a bad day for it! Just read his stance in Celerity's post and whew, I withdraw the nomination!

[phoenix_rising]

15. Sorry about the bad timing

Definitely got and appreciated the joke, though!

[notemason]

16. Thanks, Mate

[displacedvermoter]

9. And Jake Tapper, Carville and crew

will be ready to point out that whoever gets picked will be the weakest and worst choice possible and the one Trump hoped would get picked. Inevitable.

[phoenix_rising]

11. Pete can take them all on

…with ease. He is more than ready. Anyone who tries to take Pete on is as woefully outmatched as a fly against a Jedi Master.

[global1]

12. That's Why If She Picked Someone That's Not Been Mentioned In The MSM......

and come up with a surprise VP pick - it would take everyone off their game and take them a couple of days to do their due diligence on this person.

Those couple of days would give Kamala and the Dems to set the narrative for this person - before Tr**p and the Repugs can have a chance to throw barbs at them.

Again - think of how Joe surprised them by saying he was going to stay out of the race and then he endorsed Kamala.

That was completely out of left field. They didn't anticipate them. Knocked them off their game and it gave the edge to Kamala and the Dems to get a running start at the Harris campaign.

I say use the same strategy here.

[displacedvermoter]

13. Elizabeth Warren

[displacedvermoter]

5. Evan Bayh?

His fellow Hoosier Dan Quayle actually got selected for the VP job, maybe Politico should have talked to him.

[Think. Again.]

6. Oh politico.

[Scruffy1]

17. Yes, really the bottom of the barrel.

I guess nobodies got anything else to write about. Only one person picks the VP candidate and I never could figure out why the shit blizzard of who should be the VP candidate. Your, my their opinion makes no difference. I actually think it makes no difference to voters either. They vote for the Presidential candidate. Cactus Jack didn't cost Roosevelt votes in 1932 and Agnew didn't drag Nixon down. Even Sarah Palin didn't cost McCain the election. His numbers didn't go down after his selection.

[lees1975]

18. I think any of those she's chosen are the result of Democrats' deep bench.

I've lived in Illinois through all of J. B. Pritzker's term, and let me tell you, this is one of the best led, best run state governments in the country. The fact that he's still in the running says a lot for the overall quality of the whole field.

But, that being said, there is an overall quality to the whole field. If it were possible, I'd say pick one for VP and put the other five on the Supreme Court.

The fact that she's narrowed it down to these six says to me that this is a campaign that knows what it is doing. I'm looking forward to the rest of the way. I believe we're going to win this and put the first female president in the White House, with a favorable congress behind her.