An argument for Klobuchar as Biden's running mate.

[Mme. Defarge]

First off, Amy’s strong qualifications are a given, as is her very broad Midwestern appeal. But I am also coming around to thinking that people respond unconsciously to what they see, and that a candidate’s body language is very important. As such, I wonder to what I extent the unstable gestures and mannerisms of some of the candidates may have affected voters’ perception of them. Sanders and Warren both come to mind.

Klobuchar’s calm demeanor, her ability to project solidness and warmth as well as seriousness, would reinforce Biden’s steadiness. This, in my opinion, could help make for an unstoppable combination in these tumultuous times.

[bluescribbler]

1. I was leaning towards Amy before she dropprd out.

In the end, I voted proudly for Elizabeth.

[LonePirate]

2. We do not need two moderates on the ticket, especially two white moderates.

If Biden is the nominee, he needs a VP that is a liberal or progressive, not another moderate.

[squirecam]

4. That is not what he wants.

He has said repeatedly that he wants someone who agrees with him on the issues.

Given that requirement, Amy is best suited for the job.

[LonePirate]

6. Evidently what he wants and what the party needs are two different things.

[squirecam]

7. The party will vote for Joe.

Everyone here has repeatedly promised to do so. I expect them to keep their promise.

Amy helps with those *not* in our base. Which we need in a general election.

Biden will sign any legislation passed by Congress. That’s where your focus should be.

The presidential focus must be on appealing to the most voters in the general, which means moderate suburban women. That’s Amy.

Run the 2018 playbook and we win.

[treestar]

10. We won twice with two moderates on the ticket

Or are you admitting that Obama is a liberal?

[IluvPitties]

50. The more moderates

The better.

[pnwmom]

3. I like her a lot but not on a ticket with Joe. He needs a woman of color, IMHO.

[squirecam]

5. You pick the best person for the job.

Skin color should not be a consideration.

[Turin_C3PO]

8. And there's no black females suitable for the job?

Sorry but that’s bullshit. There are plenty of qualified women of color that Biden can choose from. No need for a white savior.

[squirecam]

9. Don't put words into my mouth.

For example, Harris would be qualified to be President on Day one. I think she doesn’t add to the ticket though. CA is ours, and we need the midwest. But she’s qualified.

Abrams, however, is not ready to be President on day one. I don’t think you pick someone who isn’t ready because of skin color.

And as we have had ZERO actual women be VP or president, having a white WOMAN would be historic. When every administration has a white female as president or vp, then you can gripe about POC being excluded.

Until then pick the best person. That’s Amy.

[pnwmom]

13. Harris is an excellent choice who-- on a ticket with Joe-- would excite voters all over the country.

[squirecam]

15. I disagree

She isn’t going to appeal to moderate suburban women in the Midwest. That’s who we need to win.

She would be best suited to be AG and prosecuting the Trump crime family.

[pnwmom]

29. I know LOTS of moderate suburban women in the midwest,

and they would be very happy with Harris.

[StevieM]

81. I agree that we need more ethnic diversity on our presidential/vice-presidential tickets.

But it is important to remember that this includes all minority groups, including Latinos and Asian-Americans.

Tammy Duckworth, who is Asian-American, will no doubt receive serious consideration.

[pnwmom]

11. Wrong. People of color are the backbone of our party and need to see themselves

represented in it.

[squirecam]

12. Joe will have a diverse administration.

Nt

[pnwmom]

14. Not the same. nt

[squirecam]

16. Luckily you will vote for him anyway.

I’m worried about the general electorate.

[Mme. Defarge]

22. Joe already has their votes.

[pnwmom]

28. Enthusiasm matters. If he wants numbers of black voters like Obama had,

he needs an African American on the ticket.

[squirecam]

31. They want trump gone.

They will turn out.

We need the moderates to turn out just like 2018.

[pnwmom]

38. Moderate suburban women HATE Trump. They'll turn out. n/t

[squirecam]

39. Not as much as AA voters do.

You pick the best person for the job. Not based on skin color.

[pnwmom]

41. Moderate suburban women love Biden. We don't need the female version of Biden

Last edited Wed Mar 11, 2020, 06:46 PM - Edit history (1)

on the ticket with him.

[squirecam]

48. It is absurd to suggest that women love Biden more than AA voters.

The primaries don’t bear that out one bit. Biden won women after Amy and Pete quit. Otherwise he would have had his AA base on Super Tuesday, but be behind sanders.

Biden needs a running mate that appeals to moderates. Not our base.

[pnwmom]

60. Moderate suburban women are the ones I'm referring to -- not all women. Most of the women

I know strongly preferred Warren or Harris.

[squirecam]

61. Why is choosing the best person not enough for you?

Why must you choose based upon skin color?

I certainly want the best person. I’m not insisting on skin color.

[pnwmom]

62. Because I don't think being from Minnesota makes her the best person nt

[squirecam]

63. That is one thing.

But you said it had to be a woman of color. I’m sure there are other qualified white women.

Which is why I asked. Why is the best woman not enough?

[pnwmom]

64. It should be a woman of color and there are a number of them who are very qualified

even if they don't come from Minnesota.

Bill Clinton and Al Gore got elected even though Gore didn't add anything geographically.

[Kahuna7]

17. I believe Klobuchar is the most qualified. I hate that the pundits are DEMANDING...

that the woman be a WOC.

[squirecam]

18. A woman VP of any color is historic.

When white women control the administration for a decade or two, then people can gripe.

[Kahuna7]

19. Indeed. nt

[Kingofalldems]

20. I'd go with that.

And Sen. Harris as AG. I have a feeling she would love to look into Trump and Barr's activities.

[Awsi Dooger]

21. Swing voters do not like aggressive women who point fingers while debating

I saw that so many times while hosting debate watching parties. The OP is correct that body language and demeanor are a huge part of this.

As soon as I saw Klobuchar's style during the Kavanuagh hearing I recognized it immediately as exactly the type of thing that swing voters respond positively to, in such contrast to a style like Kamala Harris'. I posted those themes on this site repeatedly. It's just too bad Amy started from such low name recognition and hype compared to Kamala.

I have no idea how Stacey Abrams' name repeatedly comes up in articles like that. I'm sorry but I trust my instincts and I view her as a lightweight. There was nothing in that 2018 governors race that gave me any confidence toward how she would perform on a national stage. We don't need a cheerleader toward the base. We need someone who blends perfectly with the nominee and the nation matter of factly accepts as presidential material. That is not going to happen with Stacey Abrams. There is already a post in this thread insisting Abrams is not ready to be president. That is clarity toward how it would play out. Anyone who denies how Abrams would fare is the same type in denial toward how extreme liberals would fare in national races.

Biden/Abrams would stand out as an awkward patch. In contrast there was a fantastic post here the other day regarding the "total alignment" of Klobuchar with Biden. I wish I had remembered to bookmark it. Maybe the author will repost.

Besides, Abrams had a slightly underwater 48-49 favorable rating in that Georgia race. Imagine how that is going to hold up once the GOP unleashes on her. There seems to be some bizarre impression that Abrams was universally liked. Beto in a more conservative state and mini-presidential type race emerged with a 52-42 positive favorable number.

Kamala Harris is perfect for attorney general. But we've got to get there first. She is unquestionably ready to be president. But I worry how her aggressive finger pointing style would play out during a campaign and also a debate. Mike Pence is going to sit there politely and have plenty of calm simple arguments that swing voters respond favorably to. That would be anything but a rout. Don't allow ideological bias to overwhelm situational realities.

Let's worry about people who actually vote and not twinkle around in some fantasyland about magical turnout. Articulate likable moderates help our cause among people who actually vote. Hillary was not rejected as too centrist. For whatever unfair reason she was not considered likable after that 24 year onslaught.

[squirecam]

23. All of this.

HRC should have picked Brown instead of Kaine. Brown would have not let the midwest go.

But you are right. We need to appeal to the moderate women just like 2018. Amy does that.

[Dem4Life1102]

26. Biden is already appealing to moderate women

So Klobuchar doesn't enhance the ticket.

[squirecam]

32. Biden already brings the AA vote.

We can do this dance all day.

[Dem4Life1102]

68. So did Clinton but not in the numbers needed

They need to come out in overwhelming numbers especially considering Republican vote suppression tactics. They need in the same numbers that they did for Obama.

[spooky3]

34. But he hasn't announced a VP choice. If he chooses someone

perceived as not yet ready to be President (due to his age, I think people will be paying more attention to P qualifications than usual), he may not win over the people he needs for the general.

All we know right now is that he has the support of most primary voters, and to the extent that polls mean anything at this stage, those polled prefer him to Trump.

[Dem4Life1102]

42. Experience doesn't matter in electoral politics.

If it did, Trump wouldn't be President.

[spooky3]

47. Trump's election was clearly an aberration, and sentient

Beings see his lack of experience, brain cells, humility, etc. as clear mistakes they don’t want to repeat.

[squirecam]

51. Right

And we don’t put in our own unqualified option just because Trump won.

We are paying for that lack of qualifications right now.

[spooky3]

53. Exactly nt

[Dem4Life1102]

69. Hopefully

but why take a chance when so much is at stake.

[spooky3]

75. That's why I would argue that relevant political experience

and a history of success ARE important.

[Dem4Life1102]

77. Experience is irrelevant

or Trump wouldn’t be President.

[spooky3]

78. OK, I already explained that, so I'll stop here. nt

[Dem4Life1102]

79. Buh bye

[Sugarcoated]

72. Who is Brown?

I'm drawing a blank

[squirecam]

74. Sherrod Brown

Nt

[Sugarcoated]

84. Of course...

Hard to believe since I couldn't remember his name, but he was THE GUY I most hoped Hillary would pick...was thinking blue collar votes

[Mme. Defarge]

24. 1) Biden already has the AA vote, and

2) Hillary did win the popular vote in 2016.

[Dem4Life1102]

33. While you make some good points

You're missing many important ones.

Klobuchar does nothing to enhance the ticket. She comes from a solid blue state with only 10 electoral votes so she doesn't help on a geographic basis. Better to have someone who can put state like Virginia, North Carolina or Florida in play. All of which have more electoral votes than Minnesota.

Klobuchar also does nothing to attract more Progressive votes who supported Sanders or Warren. That would be the same mistake the Clinton made by picking Tim Kaine.

Klobuchar doesn't energize African American votes like Obama did. While they did vote overwhelmingly for Clinton, they just didn't come out in the same numbers they did for Obama and the same thing will happen this time if it is an all white ticket.

And since you don't want to "twinkle around in some fantasyland", there are no swing states in the Midwest. Most are solid red states and will stay that way. The real swing states are Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina or Florida, all of which have a large number of African-American votes. Now it doesn't have to be Stacey Abrams but there many others such as Reps. Marcia Fudge of Ohio, Val Demings of Florida and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. All of whom are much better choices then Klobuchar.

Also since you dislike fantasyland, even if Klobuchar were to become VP there is no way Al Franken will be appointed to her seat in the Senate.

[squirecam]

36. Look at her chart.

https://mobile.twitter.com/RachelBitecofer/status/1237799998424846336


Rachel "The Doc" Bitecofer
@RachelBitecofer
Just a reminder of why moderation/centrism tends to win elections. Its not the product of grand conspiracies- it the product of numbers. Namely, having them. And if there is one place friendly to ideologues, its party primaries-if ideology can't win there, it can't win anywhere


https://mobile.twitter.com/RachelBitecofer/status/1237799998424846336/photo/1

[Dem4Life1102]

40. Yes and there is already a moderate/centerist on the ticket

A running mate needs to help broaden the ticket's appeal to more voters.

[squirecam]

43. Yes

That’s what Amy does. Broadens the appeal.

Any democrat not already voting for Joe isn’t a democrat.

[Dem4Life1102]

44. No she doesn't

She doesn't do anything to attract more progressive voters. She doesn't energize African American voters. And she doesn't help put important swing states like North Carolina, Virginia or Florida in play.

[squirecam]

45. You keep talking about progressive voters.

Everyone in the Democratic Party is already going to vote for Joe except the dead Enders. Who will not vote for him no matter what. So who cares what they demand.

The moderate women from 2018 want a moderate woman they can support. Not AOC who would cause them to run away.

Biden has ALREADY said he wants someone who agrees with him on the issues. So work with that framework. Because he isn’t choosing Warren or AOC or Bernie.

[Dem4Life1102]

66. AOC is too young

Warren comes from a state with a GOP Governor.

Moderate women are good with Joe already or they would have voted for Klobuchar and she would still be in the race. Most women want a woman on the ticket but It doesn’t have to be Klobuchar. There several other and better options.

[spooky3]

49. Virginia is going to go Dem again this year. Check out

what happened in 2018.

[Dem4Life1102]

65. Great

Now all we need is Florida and North Carolina too.

[Sugarcoated]

73. You make excellent points

[Dem4Life1102]

25. Great choice unless you want to win the Electoral College

And just for the record, if Klobuchar becomes VP there is still no way Al Franken is going to be appointed to her seat in the Senate.

Any way the VP pick is based on many factors, the chief of which are Ideology, Geography and Demographic. She is an ideological clone of Biden and does nothing to attract more progressive voters. She comes from a solid blue state and doesn't help flip swing states like Virginia, Florida and North Carolina. While she is a woman and will help there, she won't excite African American turnout. So she really works on no level.

[squirecam]

30. Biden has given his requirements.

He wants someone who agrees with him on the issues. That’s Amy.

Minnesota was within 1.5% in 2016. That’s a swing state.

As you admit, she helps with women. Her job isn’t AA turnout. Joe has them. Her job is the general electorate turnout. Not “appealing to the base”.

So she in fact works on every level.

[Dem4Life1102]

37. Minnesota is not a swing state

It hasn't voted for a Republican for Governor since 1972. It has 2 Democratic Senators and a Democratic Governor and the latest poll there has Biden beating Trump by 12 points. Minnesota is a solid blue state.

Even if it were, it only has 10 electoral votes. Better to have someone who puts Florida in play which has 29 electoral votes.

Biden is doing fine with women and a woman on the ticket will hopefully attract more. But a white woman is not going to energize African American votes. A woman of color will.

[squirecam]

46. They are already energized.

Why aren’t you satisfied with the best person for the job? Why must you base your pick on the color of a persons skin?

[spooky3]

52. Or, why should women be ruled out on the basis of skin color? Nt

[squirecam]

54. Not ruling any woman out based on skin color.

I will rule out inexperienced or unqualified women based upon that.

I want the best person for the job. I’m not the one insisting on skin color.

[spooky3]

58. No, I know you aren't; the poster to whom you replied

Seems to be doing so, as have other DUers (more explicitly).

[squirecam]

59. Right. Apologies.

Nt

[spooky3]

76. no apologies are needed; I was unclear. nt

[Dem4Life1102]

67. I'm basing on

Who will best help the Democratic Party win the election not some bizarre hope to get Franken back in the Senate.

[squirecam]

70. Me too.

Peggy is probably getting her seat.

[Dem4Life1102]

71. No seat to get

[LaurenOlimina]

27. Meh.

[USALiberal]

35. I don't like her! nt

[squirecam]

55. You don't have to.

You just have to vote for her if Joe decides she should be VP.

[USALiberal]

56. Of course I will, but Harris a much better pick! nt

[squirecam]

57. She is much better for AG.

She will prosecute the Trump crime family better than anyone else would.

[DonCoquixote]

80. so harris can do the work

but amy gets the crown? Look, as much as we have to help moderate whites (and let's be hon est, that is the demographic amy appeals to) do rember that 54 percent of white women voted for TRUMP. We needs to stop pretending that the trump voters will relly really like us if our slogan is " we are just like them, save for a little less salt."

[squirecam]

83. Harris is better as AG

Because she is more liberal and more likely to be tougher on Trumpists then Amy would. As to the crown, Amy helps Biden get elected better than Harris does.

[DonCoquixote]

85. by telling the black women who vote for us

sorry, you can cook the food, but we sit at the table? Do keep in mind, while moderates crow victory dances of the blue wave, a lot of that was because black people walked through hell to vote, and indeed, the only reason biden is in this position is because, despite the Hillary voters that told us we better get a "moderate" aka white woman in 2008, we chose obama, who WON!

[StevieM]

82. Neither do I.

I didn't like her before this campaign, and I now like her even less.

[denem]

86. Same thinking that gave us Tim Kaine 👎🏽

[Dem4Life1102]

87. Yup It is

The unfortunately some have a hidden agenda. They think if Klobuchar becomes VP, Al Franken will be appointed to her Senate Seat.