Elizabeth Warren is the favored VP pick among Democrats, poll shows

[turbinetree]

Warren ranks above Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, and Stacey Abrams as a preferred running mate for Joe Biden.

By Emily [e-mail] May 1, 2020, 8:30am EDT

Sen. Elizabeth Warren may not be the likeliest vice-presidential pick for Joe Biden, but she’s emerging as the running mate Democratic voters would prefer most — and who they believe would be best for the job.

In a Data for Progress poll shared exclusively with Vox, the Massachusetts senator ranked first as the vice-presidential candidate likely Democratic voters think is most ready to be president and would be best at handling the coronavirus pandemic and implementing policies, including those that benefit working-class people.

Forty-two percent of poll respondents said they believe Warren is most ready to be president, followed by Sen. Kamala Harris at 15 percent, Sen. Amy Klobuchar at 9 percent, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams at 7 percent, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at 4 percent, and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto at 3 percent. Nearly 20 percent of respondents said they didn’t know. Warren ranks significantly better than the other candidates surveyed across gender, age, and education. But among black voters, she is basically tied with Harris and Abrams.

Warren outpolled the other potential contenders on nearly every measure. She’s the most preferred vice presidential candidate, with 31 percent support, and the pick Democrats are likeliest to say would make them more inclined to vote for Biden. It is also worth noting that Warren is among the vice presidential contenders with the highest name identification among voters — she ran for president for longer than most of the 2020 field, and she’s a famous figure.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/5/1/21243143/elizabeth-warren-vice-president-joe-biden-2020-poll

[unblock]

1. i will be seriously pissed if we fail to retake the senate because of this.

besides, she's *far* more useful in a majority senate than as a vice-president.

i *really* want to see us win the trifecta in november and have much of her legislative agenda pushed through. we'll need every vote in the senate for that to happen, and she'd be replaced by a republican as massachusetts has a republican governor.

[whathehell]

7. Couldn't you say the same about other VP contenders,

like Harris and Klobuchar?

[grantcart]

9. California has a Republican Governor?

[unblock]

15. They both would be replaced by democrats.

Plus warren's talent as a policy wonk is particularly well suited to the senate. I'd love to see her in the leadership there.

[whathehell]

20. So would Warren. n/t

[unblock]

22. More complicated, as Massachusetts has a Republican governor

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=13378225

[Celerity]

12. only for a few months, or even not all (in terms of the new Senate after the 2020 elections)

unless you think MA is going to elected a Rethug in this climate.

Baker would be the only hope they have (he would have to resign as Governor), and I think the loser of the Markey/Kennedy primary would crush him (I also doubt he would give up the governorship)

Under state law, an outgoing Warren could file a letter of resignation, triggering the 145- to 160-day period to hold a special election, but not make the resignation effective until a later date.

So Warren could file that letter the day after Election Day, or even earlier during the general-election campaign, to expedite the date of the special election and minimize the time of any Republican replacement.

Or she could do this:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/3/5/1924805/-Vice-President-Warren-It-can-happen-Here-s-how

snip

If she resigns between April 10 and June 23, her seat would be up for a special election held on Election Day to fill the rest of the term. In either case, the winner of the election would be sworn in immediately.

Warren’s resignation also solves a problem. Massachusetts is enduring a massively pointless primary fight between two strong Democrats — Incumbent Senator Ed Markey and Congressman Joseph Kennedy III. If Warren resigns, Kennedy can simply move over and run for this other seat, and everybody’s happy. Whoever Baker appoints would be a serious underdog to Rep. Kennedy.

And it’s not like there’s a lot going to get done that Warren would be able to stop in the Senate the rest of 2020. The Senate has done virtually nothing but confirm judges the whole term.

https://malegislature.gov/laws/generallaws/parti/titleviii/chapter54/section140

Section 140. (a) Upon failure to choose a senator or representative in congress or upon creation of a vacancy in that office, the governor shall immediately cause precepts to be issued to the aldermen in every city and the selectmen in every town in the district, directing them to call an election on the day appointed in the precepts for the election of such senator or representative. The day so appointed shall not be more than 160 nor less than 145 days after the date that a vacancy is created or a failure to choose occurs. Filing a letter of resignation creates a vacancy under this section, even if the resignation is not effective until some later time, but the date of the election to fill a vacancy under this section shall be after the resignation is effective.

(b) If a vacancy under this section is created after February 1 of an even-numbered year, the governor shall not issue the precepts required by subsection (a), except as subsection (c) provides for a vacancy for senator.

(c) If a vacancy is created for senator in congress after April 10 of an even-numbered year, the governor shall issue precepts under this section, unless section 152 requires that office to appear on the biennial state election ballot in that year. If this section prevents issuance of precepts for senator, the office shall appear on the biennial state election ballot in that year. If a vacancy for senator is created after April 10 of an even-numbered year, but on or before the seventieth day preceding the regular state primary, the precepts shall appoint the day of the regular state primary and the biennial state election for holding the special primary and special election required by this section.

(d) If at the time a senator or representative in congress is elected at the biennial state election, there exists a vacancy in that office, the senator or representative shall also be deemed to have been elected to serve out that vacancy.

(e) A senator elected to fill a vacancy under this section shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(f) Upon failure to choose a senator in congress or upon a vacancy in that office, the governor shall make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy; provided, however, that the person so appointed shall serve until the election and qualification of the person duly elected to fill the vacancy pursuant to subsection (a) or (c).

[unblock]

19. Very interesting

I would change my view on her as vice-president if her seat can stay in the "d" column.

That said, I hope she would be much more involved in legislation than the typical veep.

[Celerity]

21. I think they clash too much for Biden to pick her, but that is just a guess

If Larry Summers is any evidence of his econ people, Warren has zero chance. Also, one would have to ask how hard Bloomberg and the rest of the big boys on Wall Street would push for a duo that includes their public enemy number 2 (only speaking, obviously of Democratic VP's, and of course Bernie is number 1.)

I am good with whoever he picks, and there is only one who I actively think would be the worst choice or the top 11 or 12 who have been floated.

The only 'OMG' yes! one for me (Michelle Obama) has said over and over she never wants to run for any Federal office as well. I think Biden wants to nominate her for the SCOTUS, BUT we need to take back the Senate first. I have said since I joined DU that as long as the Rethugs have Senate control, and especially under McTurtle, I can see them not holding hearings on ANY Democratic POTUS-nominated SCOTUS candidate, even if they obstruct it for 4 straight years (or 2 if they hold it in 2020, but lose it in 2022.)

The Rethugs have cast their iron dice, they are all in for good with hyper-partisan, to the death warfare. They are too far committed to an ultra RW, white nationalist, crush/kill as many Dems and their voters/states mentality. Gerrymandering and voter suppression is what they will push to unheard of depths. I fully expect HUGE shenanigans due to COVID-19 to occur with the 2020 elections as well. It is a perfect storm of shitbaggery. I see no point of return for the Republican Party and their core group of 60, 70 million goons (maybe 100 million if you extend it out to their non voting white winger penumbra and also the voting Rethugs' families.) It will take decades to put thsi toxic shit back into the bottle (or at lust under the whip-hand of sanity) if it even can be done at all. The divisions have been carved out too deeply I fear. Their side literally wants to kill/starve/enslave any who disagree with them.

[AleksS]

2. Maybe "most ready to be president" but that's not the only consideration.

She may be "most ready to be president" but that's not the only consideration.

Electing Joe, but handing the Senate back to Moscow Mitch by giving the (R)'s a free seat when the (R) governor of Mass appoints Warren's replacement, seems an unnecessary self-maiming.

(Not that anything generally stops the party from unnecessarily self-maiming.)

[BGBD]

6. that was

my first thought too, but I have since seen some discussion that the Massachusetts legislature could change the laws surrounding replacing senators and override any gubernatorial veto that might come.

[Celerity]

14. they would barely have the seat, and there is a way they would never have it after the 2020 election

at all (and we would avoid a nasty primary that is happening now between Markey and Kennedy)

see

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=13378225

[Buckeye_Democrat]

3. I'll leave it to Joe.

Personally, I’d be thrilled if he picked Warren. She’s brilliant and very progressive.

But whomever he selects certainly won’t be a deal-breaker for me! He could pick the most conservative Democrat out there, and I’d still vote for Biden over Trump!

[Hoyt]

4. There are better choices for several reasons.

[Tech]

5. Data for progress is a progressive think tank. I am ok with anyone Biden chooses, but I am not

sure of the bias. Personally, having watched so many hearings, I am all in for Kamala or Amy, but no one asked me lol.

[StevieM]

8. This poll didn't list any of the potential running mates who I like the most.

1. Representative Val Demings, of Orlando, Florida.

2. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.

3. Former Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.

4. Former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates.

I listed them in alphabetical order, not in order of preference.

[TeamPooka]

10. On the other hand The GOP Governor of MA will replace her with a Republican if she becomes VP

every Senate seat will count
Harris is the one who can be counted on to be replaced by a democrat by our Gov and the populace when the special election is held.

[Blaukraut]

13. I wouldn't be so sure about that

Baker isn't going to do anything to help McConnell maintain the senate majority after basically being told to go f** himself (along with the rest of the blue states) He'd appoint someone non-controversial as a place holder until the special election.

[madinmaryland]

18. Never trust a Republican. They will fuck you.

[uponit7771]

24. +1, the fact that none of the kGOP is speaking out against Trump killing 65,000 Americans because he

... failed to act is the tell tale.

[TeamPooka]

23. That's adorable. Y'know, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that would be a perfect investment opportunity

for you.

[Blaukraut]

25. How adorably douchy of you.

Do you have a monopoly on all things Massachusetts? you don't know anymore than I do whom Baker would appoint to Warren's senate seat (for a few short months). Maybe if your reply were a little bit less condescending and dickish and provide a decent argument instead, we could actually engage in conversation. As it is, you're just being an asshole.

[TeamPooka]

26. I'd rather be an asshole than trust a Republican politician to do the right thing.

Cause that's naive and stupid

[Arazi]

11. She's my 1st choice. Tammy Duckworth is my 2nd. Harris my 3rd

FWIW

[Andy823]

16. Doesn't really matter

what one post from VOX says. Biden will make the choice. I like Warren, but I really don't see her and Joe getting along if she were the VP.

[Celerity]

17. yes, that is her biggest barrier, they deffo clash on many things

[ChoppinBroccoli]

27. You Have To Think Strategically, Not Just "I Like Her"

I understand why people want her on the ticket. I like her too. But she's not the most strategically sound running mate out there. She gives you no advantage on the ticket (she doesn't strengthen any demographic we didn't already have), and when she becomes VP, a Republican Governor would get to replace her with a Republican in the Senate, which is a loss.

Also, she's in her 60s as well. When you're running a 77-year-old Presidential candidate, you need to give voters a YOUNG VP. But not only that, young, competent, experienced, and ready to step in at any moment. That will assuage people's fears that about an older candidate dying in office.

So Biden's running mate needs to be young, experienced, competent, and provide a strategic advantage. For my money, the person who ticks all those boxes best is Kamala Harris. And when she becomes VP, we won't lose a seat in the Senate. Plus, as an added bonus, she will absolutely take Race Bannon APART in the VP debate, and that will be a RIOT to watch.