Joe Biden Should Choose Kamala Harris As His Vice President by Robert Covington Jr.
As it stands, it is very likely that Joe Biden will become the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. During the Democratic debate with Bernie Sanders on March 15th, 2020, Biden stated he would choose a woman as his running mate. Now with this gender affirming commitment to balancing the ticket, the question is who?
The person that provides Biden with the strongest ticket for the general election is California Senator Kamala Harris. She is smart, a black woman with a lot of political experience, and she would work very hard to get the Democratic base of black women to vote. By selecting Harris, he would also say thank you to Obama for keeping him relevant and viable on the national level while serving as his Vice President. Thank you to powerful black congressman Jim Clyburn for his huge endorsement during the South Carolina primary, and to black people in general for saving his primary campaign. It is Biden’s proximity to blackness that will get a man that could write a book on how to run failed presidential campaigns, finally over the hump.
Even if Biden conveniently rejects the notion that one of the ways he should show his appreciation to African Americans is through his Vice Presidential pick, Kamala Harris makes sense in other ways too. Harris is satisfactorily aligned with Biden ideologically as both are cautious moderates with progressive tendencies, depending on the issue. There is nothing in her background to suggest that she wouldn’t be a strong advocate for Biden’s agenda. The relationships that she’s built within the Democratic Party gives her instant credibility and would help her whip votes when needed.
Given Biden’s age, his campaign will likely be judicious in the amount of campaign stops, rallies and interviews that he gives. He will need a Vice Presidential running mate that would be willing and able to grind it out on the campaign trail and speak on his behalf. Harris seems to have the energy, tenacity and discipline to excel in this role.
As of right now, the only other candidate that seems to be getting serious consideration is Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar. If Biden were to choose Klobuchar, it would hurt him more than help him in the general election campaign. Klobuchar is also smart, moderate and accomplished. But she’s not a dynamic speaker, and quite frankly, she borders on uninspiring. When she ran for president, Klobuchar’s most passionate appeals were to white voters in middle and rural America — the same group that Democrats consistently lose in presidential elections and yet, continuously believe that they will vote for them.
Klobuchar made little effort to engage and reach African Americans and her ability to connect with us in moving forward, remains a serious question. This is a base turnout election and the Democratic Party is going to need African Americans willing to stand in line 3–6 hours to vote in many places around the country. Who is better to help motivate that level of sacrifice: Klobuchar or Harris?
Joe Biden has said that he sees himself as the bridge to the next generation of Democratic leaders, and his choice to be Vice President will be a clear sign of who he would like to see as the head of that movement. But there are many Democrats with ambition so the mantle of leadership will have to be earned, not given. Symbolism is power, balance brings reassurance, diversity generates hope and competence fosters trust. Kamala Harris represents these variables for Biden. It’s clear, Joe Biden’s best choice for Vice President is Kamala Harris.
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