Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) ponders the moment she endorsed presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden a lot.
“I think about it every day,” she told a group of teachers in Colorado gathered virtually on Saturday afternoon. “I couldn’t think of a more joyful way to end [my campaign].”
Klobuchar, a Minnesota senator and one of the contenders thought to be in the running to be Biden’s vice president, was addressing over 100 attendees present for a campaign-sponsored writing workshop, where organizers and residents learned the mechanics of writing letters to the editor in local newspapers. At nearly every juncture of the election, the Biden campaign has sought to present a stark contrast to Trump, who, in his latest barrage of insults against the media, elevated through his massive Twitter following an attack on a local journalist by supporters over the weekend.
ADVERTISEMENT
With six months until the general election, Team Biden is tasked with ginning up engagement as his chief opponent enjoys primetime treatment, deploying a variety of ex-primary rivals turned top surrogates to rally remotely on his behalf. This week, Klobuchar, who according to a source familiar with her thinking would gladly accept the role of VP if offered, was just one of the Democratic women jockeying hard in the veepstakes.
And at times, the praise was lavished reciprocally from Biden himself.
“I think you’ve done one hell of a job,” Biden told Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in front of a virtual panel of fellow governors addressing coronavirus on Thursday afternoon. “Stacey knows what she’s doing, and she’s an incredibly capable person,” he said the same day, referencing former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, who he asked to appear with him on a joint cable news segment later that night. “She has a great, great capacity to explain things.”
The shadow primary to secure Biden’s old job has taken on heightened significance as the pandemic continues to touch nearly every facet of American life. Officials announced this week that the country’s death toll surpassed 86,000, with jobless claims rising to 36 million. Selecting a running mate who’s “simpatico” with Biden’s approach to addressing the crisis and other policy issues is critical, the candidate and his biggest allies have long contended.
“He’s the sitting president of the United States during a time of national crisis,” Mike Donilon, the campaign’s chief strategist, said of Trump in a wide-ranging strategy briefing call on Friday with reporters. “That’s where we are. And he’s losing.”
In addition to Biden’s age (he’ll turn 78 just weeks after Election Day), campaigning in isolation—and the reality that Trump has nearly wall-to-wall cable news coverage—has placed an additional spotlight on the Democratic women thought to be in the mix.
Whitmer, who has been on the front lines of the coronavirus battle in Michigan, used a joint event with Biden to outline specific concerns related to testing protocol and supply deficits in her state. At several points during the lengthy event, fellow Democratic governors and Biden praised Whitmer’s tactical approach on the ground, frequently turning the attention back to her as a capable executive during a national crisis. But while she’s garnered national interest and media attention, even appearing on Biden’s “Here’s the Deal” podcast, voters say they don’t know much about the governor.
That’s not the case with Abrams. The Georgia Democrat dialed up her transparent campaign for vice president by formally endorsing Biden on Tuesday. One top Biden adviser suggested before the height of the lockdown that Abrams should endorse early on, well ahead of other prospective contenders. She ultimately opted to do it much later than others, but has maintained a consistent presence in the discussion around access to voting.
After her endorsement, Abrams appeared on MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell in an appearance at Biden’s request. “Do you have an announcement to make? Is this an audition?” O'Donnell asked.
“Stacey Abrams has done more to deal with the fair vote and making sure there is a fair vote than anybody,” Biden replied.
Abrams, along with Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), have been at the top of the list for some African-American elected officials, leaders, and activists who believe Biden should select a black woman as his running mate to round off his ticket. The gesture, some argue, would significantly help boost turnout among that bloc of voters in the general election.
While Harris didn’t make as much of a splash during veepstakes week, she’s thought to be a top choice among a host of Biden allies who view her as deeply qualified to assume the position of president if he falters mid-term.
In a brief moment of levity this week, Harris joked in an Instagram Live, “I keep trying to make this work,” while waiting for the livestream to start for about 45 seconds. Biden has famously struggled with the technical side of virtual campaigning, suffering in the past from a glitchy connection or two. (Campaign Manager Jen O’Malley Dillion announced that Team Biden will debut a new livestream platform this weekend).
“I’m touching the two smiley faces; they’re not touching me back,” Harris said with a laugh.
On Friday, senior Biden campaign officials previewed the coalition of supporters they believe is necessary to capture the contest from Trump, including African-American voters and women. Among women, the Biden campaign’s internal 2020 polling shows a 5 point increase from 2016.
Another former rival, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), added a new element in her pro-Biden push this week, debuting a fresh, first-person online ad from her porch, spotlighting his role in overseeing Congress’ stimulus package in 2009. “President Trump doesn’t value transparency and accountability. But a President Biden will,” she said in the self-narrated clip.
The Massachusetts senator, who answered with a definitive “yes” when asked if she would accept the position of vice president if offered, is a favorite choice among some in the party’s progressive wing, who view her as a bridge between Biden’s more moderate positioning and a liberal platform popular with younger people, another key constituency critical to Biden’s coalition.
A recent CBS News survey showed that 36 percent of respondents want Warren to be Biden’s pick, followed by Harris with 19 percent. Warren also reportedly caught the attention of former President Barack Obama, whom Biden told donors he consults about the vice president search, as well as one top progressive member of Congress.
“Now that Vice President Biden has indicated that he is not interested simply in a restoration of the Obama years but that the pandemic has changed the fundamental aspiration of our politics, that he wants to have a new New Deal for the 21st century, I think it’s an obvious choice that Sen. Warren would be that partner,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) told The Daily Beast on Thursday.
The California congressman previously co-chaired Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) presidential campaign. And it’s with that spirit, he said, that he believes a progressive voice should be added to the ticket. Khanna told The Daily Beast that he has already had conversations with Biden campaign officials about Warren, making his preference for the senator known “respectfully.”
“I don’t have the standing to tell them what to do in any way,” Khanna said. “But I’ve made the case for why this would be a strong choice.” When pressed about talks he’s had with Warren directly around the subject, he stressed that their chats have focused on policy matters central to their shared progressive agenda. “We haven’t talked about the politics of it as much as just the different policies,” he said.
Still, the campaign’s vetting process is already in full swing with the formation of a committee on April 29. During a fundraiser on Wednesday evening, Biden provided his most detailed response yet in addressing his thought process, indicating there’s “about a dozen” women being considered.
“We're keeping the names quiet because if anyone isn't chosen I don't want anybody to think it’s because there was something that was a—some liability that existed,” he said.
Among that dozen, there’s reason to believe that another Democratic leader, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), is among those on the list. Duckworth, a Thai-American Iraq War vet, hasn’t received the same level of national attention as those who competed against Biden in the primary. But this week she saw her profile elevated with a daytime media appearance and endorsement from another sitting senator, fellow Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, a Biden ally.
“I support Tammy Duckworth. She's spectacular, a great colleague and I hope that she fares well in this interview, which I think is going to take place soon,” Durban said, previewing an expected interview between Duckworth and Biden.
On Tuesday, Duckworth appeared on ABC’s The View, detailing her role in a special congressional task force to advise the president on his efforts to reopen the economy. When asked about the vice presidential process, Duckworth turned the attention back on putting Biden in the White House.
“My focus is on getting Joe Biden elected,” she said.
