Joe Biden narrows down his VP list, with Karen Bass emerging as one of several key contenders

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

(CNN)Joe Biden heads into the weekend weighing the biggest decision of his presidential campaign so far, and people close to the process tell CNN that the former vice president is believed to have now begun to narrow his personal shortlist of potential running mates to a handful of women.

In more than two dozen interviews with CNN in recent days, members of Congress, top Democratic donors, Biden allies and others close to the vice presidential vetting process said California Rep. Karen Bass, the 66-year-old chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, has gained real traction in the late stage of the search. Amid furious last-minute lobbying and speculation about Biden's historic decision, California Sen. Kamala Harris and Susan Rice, Barack Obama's former national security adviser, are also believed to be among the most serious contenders.

The search continues to be conducted under extreme secrecy, with even many top campaign advisers in the dark about the vetting process. Several additional women have also gone through extensive examination by the Biden team, including Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Florida Rep. Val Demings and Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Others, including Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham have also received various levels of scrutiny by the vetting team.

Biden's team has yet to tell any of the women they've considered in earnest for the vice presidential role that they are officially out of the running, people familiar with the process said, with one source saying 11 women are still formally being considered.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/31/politics/joe-biden-running-mate/index.html

[Renew Deal]

1. Today's trial balloon

Yesterday it was Duckworth. The day before it was Harris.

[George II]

3. Right. Let's just let it happen when it happens.

[Fiendish Thingy]

5. And tonight Warren is hosting a joint fundraiser with Biden

Also, AFAIK, Bottoms, Grisham, and Whitmer were never confirmed to have gone through the formal vetting process, only brief trial balloons months ago.

[brooklynite]

8. According to Axelrod, Whitmer wasn't really interested

[WhiteTara]

15. good for her!

She's the governor of a major state.

[ucrdem]

2. Very sensible

I think we will all be pleasantly surprised, but Karen Bass seems a reasonable choice, in that she's not as well known and thus not as controversial as some of the others on the list.

p.s. she was an early Biden endorser: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287664386

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=691

[WhiteTara]

17. If only she wasn't Scientologist. sigh.

[ucrdem]

18. I don't know that much about her but this Scientology speech looks like a well-aimed hit job.

Let's see, who might want Bass out of the way? Questions questions

[WhiteTara]

19. Prolly and she just decried her participation

and simply stated she was acting as a public official and only cut the ribbon to the building. Says she a Southern Baptist (as if that was comfort in my mind..hahahahaha)

[ucrdem]

20. Thank for a reasonable reponse.

I'm not fond of Scientologists either but it's a legal religion per the IRS and splashing this video around is really shady. Also I read a comment that she had visited Cuba as part of a Venceremos brigade which elevates her in my eyes considerably.

[WhiteTara]

21. No problem. It's logical to reassess

as new information comes to light. I still want Kamala, but I'm trying not to be attached.

[IronLionZion]

4. America loves Karens

[dustyscamp]

10. I can see the GOP using the Karen meme on her throughout the election

Channers and other dumbfucks will be onboard with it and itll spread like wildfire.

[PatrickforO]

6. Whatever choice Biden makes between these contenders will work

out fine. A woman, especially a woman of color, will utterly galvanize the base and drive a decisive victory for Democrats all over the country.

[theaocp]

7. How much changes in a little over a week.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213792532

[ananda]

9. Does Karen Bass have any name recognition..

.. country-wide?

I never heard of her till recently.

I don't even know what she's like or whether
she has any charisma whatsoever.

[hamsterjill]

11. That's me, as well.

My pick is Susan Rice. But if this gentlewoman is chosen, then I look forward to learning more about her and what’s he will bring to the ticket.

[Progressive Jones]

12. She's into Scientology. That's enough for me to say No Way. nt

[Politicub]

13. Oh, please. She's not "into" Scientology

Scientology’s headquarters is in her district. She attended a ribbon cutting ceremony and said a few nice words. It was the same kind of thing that public officials do in their districts all across the U.S.

She’s not Tom Cruise.

[jeffreyi]

16. Agree.

I watched that. Her comment was in the context of a ribbon cutting and praising their supposed policy of nondiscrimination. She's not a Scientologist, and her resume is very impressive. However. Still looks terrible, and is juicy sound bite stuff for the opposition. They must be drooling over this.

[SmartGreekGirl]

23. she has none

Hi,

She doesn't have any name recognition and can't hold a candle to Susan Rice who is my pick.

[Jose Garcia]

22. Having her on the ticket would make it harder to win Florida and

wound endanger some state legislative seats.