Joe Biden has selected Kamala Harris to be his running mate, elevating a charismatic blue-state senator, former prosecutor and onetime 2020 primary rival who has built a reputation as an unyielding antagonist of the Trump administration.
Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, was the wire-to-wire frontrunner for Biden’s No. 2 job. Her experience as a battle-tested presidential candidate, her efforts leading major law enforcement offices and her political track record of three election wins in California helped her overcome a crowded list of contenders.
“I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked @KamalaHarris — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate,” Biden wrote in a tweet Tuesday.
In her own tweet, Harris called joining Biden’s ticket an honor.
Biden, she wrote, “can unify the American people because he’s spent his life fighting for us. And as president, he’ll build an America that lives up to our ideals. I’m honored to join him as our party’s nominee for Vice President, and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief.”
This is. breaking story we’ll have more
It appears Biden made the right political decision on this…
Rice would have been the more comfortable but in the end it is about politics…
She can handle herself and is now gonna to be the first black woman that is up for the Vice Presidency and in line to be President ….
image….abcnews.go.com
I was pushing for Rice, but As i said yesterday Eugene Robertson was right….
Harris is the better ‘political’’ choice….
I fully support the move even though Harris has baggage and is a bit mean….
What baggage? How is she mean?
She CAN be mean Keith….
She was a prosecutor ….
Go back and check the first and second debate …
It will serve her well in the next 80 days…
It just is who she is…
Do you call men mean James, or are they just aggressive?
Do you even think about what you write?
What baggage?
james did you ever say that Hillary was “mean?”
If not, you had to certainly realize that is how she was perceived. (I think she probably has a far meaner streak than Harris). You started off that whole cycle saying Hillary had the Presidency in the bag and it would practically not even be a contest.
Oh I KNOW Hillary was seen as closed and mean…
It actually cost her women votes from the right …
I remember they pushed the time she drank a beer in some bar with everyone…
That was humanizing her…
They blamed her closed off ness on being a lawyer and having to cover for her husband for most of her life….
Up close most people admitted the liked her…
Hillary may have her friends but she is mean and petty. There are worse things in the world of course, and that has been seen by her actions in recent years (though I highly praised her for the way she conceded). Just read her book. She is mean in her own book about everyone (but herself of course)
She may have been a lousy campaigner but i give her props….
She had a VERY tough road to travel and she actually beat Trump by THREE MILLION VOTES….
There is no known cure for CGs Hillary obsession.
It’s a common Republican affliction–going all the way up to the President
So again, we have a discussion between two men calling two successful women petty and mean.
I am not sure they even see the irony in that.
Both Kamala and Hillary took tough jobs and succeeded. And, of course, the first thing we read here is the discussion of how they were mean. Once again, do we call aggressive successful men mean. Or are they just successful?
Misogyny is misogyny by any other name.
Tonight has been great. The Biden/Harris campaign raised almost 12 million dollars in four hours and pulled off a genuine surprise for the media and every political junkie in the country.
Friends from here and DC have been calling and agreeing to raise money. My friend Dennis, who knew Kamala back when, when they both worked for the City Attorney and before they both ran for office (Kamala for DA, and Dennis for City Attorney) called to say Kamala telephoned to thank him for being such a good friend today. She wanted to talk to her friend on this important day. A very classy thing to do. She simply thanked him for being her friend, no asks, no favors, just thank you. My Howard friends are unbelievably excited as well. Her Sorority will be a incredible asset to the campaign. This roll out has been almost flawless at this point.
I have known Kamala now, through Dennis, for over twenty years. I know her to be generous and kind.
We supported her first run for Attorney General, the one Karl Rove worked for her racist opponent, with a fundraiser here in Sonoma shortly after we built our house. And, of course, we helped in her Senate race too. I think everyone who has ever met her knew she was going to end up in the White House. That’s what Gavin has always been afraid of. If they win this November, he’s boxed out for eight years. That wasn’t the plan.
Tonight my husband asked, “do we think now Mike Pence will get the virus and have to withdraw from the ticket so Trump can have that woman from South Carolina?” Can you imagine Kamala ripping Mike a new one? As Jeff Sessions once said, “you’re confusin’ me!”
Agreed Keith. And anyone who idolizes an SOB like Dick Cheney calling a tough woman “mean” is laughable.
Love the choice. She is both the logical and emotional choice. Great to hear that she is as kind and genuine as she appears to be.
Good to hear your close in view of Harris Keith…..
Like Hillary i guess time actually know her is to see a different side of her….
Also good to hear of the strong fundraising win her joining the Biden campaign …
She will need her soft and tough side as she goes forward…
Former national security adviser Susan Rice on Wednesday hailed California Sen. Kamala Harris as a “great choice” to become former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate.
Her remarks represented a new show of party unity after Biden’s protracted search process saw Rice emerge as one of Harris’ most formidable rivals for the No. 2 spot on the Democratic presidential ticket….
More…
Klobuchar is the one that is mean!
Being me i’d guess ….
Rice as Sec of State …
Maybe Klobuchar as AG….
I knew james would say it was the right choice!
And your thoughts?
check the recent comments
Glad to make ya right CG…
Harris would not have been MY choice , but I’m not Biden….
She can handle it and i understand why he made the choice….
In the end?
It IS about Politics and Rice was missing in that ….
She’ll be an insider as Sec of State….
I always said it was between the two and Biden probably would be more comfortable with Rice….
But that comes second….
I did saw Rice had a VERY STRONG campaign going for her to be the choice…
The others where window dressing…
We just want to win….
Harris had a VERY STRONG backing behind her….
Politically, it is likely that after tomorrow, she is not a major part of the story. She probably the best “do no harm” candidate. Being from California and also being part Indian-American, she will raise a ton of money for the ticket.
California is of course beyond safe. The only thing I can think of is if somehow Biden loses Florida by a couple hundred votes, and because of that the election (which is not as likely as in 2000 based on the map), then they will wish he picked Demings.
As the first woman of color on the ticket she is of course going to be more than a one day story.
For better or worse, the only real story in this campaign is Trump.
Will Mother allow Mikey to be alone with her for the debate?
I don’t think anyone is going to actually be in the same room as the opponent during the debate.
I wonder if Nikki Haley is waiting by her phone now for a call from Trump or if she is still fighting with the Popcorn Factory.
If there is a debate, she will do much better than Tim Kaine did.
It is hard to see how someone might handle that worse.
I actually do think Pence would find it difficult instinctively to push back against a woman in a forceful because of who he is.
Biden found himself in a similar position against Palin and managed to restrain himself but she was mostly just trying to be folksy and seem competent. (Biden of course was a first class asshole against Ryan)
In 1984, Ferraro was ready to whip out the sexism card against Bush at the first opportunity and he pulled his punches as well.
Clearly, this was not an issue for Trump against Hillary.
Yes CG….
She’ll probably tear Pence a new one…
We KNOW she can be a strong attack person fir Biden…
She will have to defend Biden too. Obviously, Pence will do what he did last time and just ignore whatever is said about Trump and go after the other person. But I think he is going to demur a bit when in an exchange with a woman because of how he was raised or whatever.
Kamala Harris, VP; Susan Rice, Supreme Court Justice?
Susan Rice is not even an attorney
Actually the Constitution doesn’t require that a Supreme Court nominee be a lawyer.
But they aren’t apparently required to admit to knowing what the “Devil’s Triangle” is or to being a drunk.
Susan Rice would be a great Chief of Staff.
Thanks Keith…
Most people don’t know that….
And yes she sure would and no confirmation needed…
And she would be back in the room in the middle of things …
More power
But the Sec of State just as sorely needed after Trump’s fuckups….
My “prediction” for COS is Sen. Coons
Senator of Dem’s from Delaware
A Chief of Staff does not have to get confirmed by the Senate, which I think would be difficult for Rice for any post.
But who knows if she would want a job like that.
I have thought that someone who has not been a Judge would be good to have on the Supreme Court, but I think someone who never spent a day in law school would be a tough sell.
Nope RE…
Sec of State,…
If this ticket wins, I think it is extremely likely that Karen Bass gets the Senate appointment. Whether she would run statewide in a special election is another matter.
Really? Karen Bass? You talked to Gavin about this?
LOL
Who is the other African-American woman that Gavin might pick?
Xavier Becerra.
They need to get passed Ro Kahanna.
This is California we’re talking about and it’s all about money and the largest ethnic group in the State.
I am talking about the appointment as the “caretaker” or whatever. I imagine it would be a crowded primary.
Possibly, he might pick a Latino, but I think it is most likely he picks a black woman to succeed Harris.
Carla Marinucci agrees with me. She also mentioned Willie Brown as a possibility for the appointment though.
At 86, he would be California’s younger Senator.
No, you are simply talking out your ass. When Gavin picks it will be for keeps and for the win. This is all about Gavin.
He still harbors Presidential ambitions and they took a hit today, so he will pick who is best for Gavin. Kamala got a serious head start today, win or lose. He will want a Senator that owes him.
You really need to understand California politics other than what you read in the blogs.
The first two women to represent the same state in the Senate came from California and the State is always ahead of its time on both the left and right. It is already showing us what the future of the Republican Party will look like.
Gavin will pick a Hispanic Senator (woman or man, it’s their turn) and that person will be challenged by Ro Kahanna (he’ll have tons of money). Our jungle primary will most likely eliminate the Republican candidate in the general.
But, this is so much inside baseball bullshit. This is a day to celebrate. California, especially California women, rule.
At least you are off your Adam Schiff for Senate fantasy, That is not going to happen.
If Newsom picks someone for selfish political reasons, it will get him a lot of criticism. I cannot see him not picking an African-American and not getting a ton of blowback.
There are already a bunch of articles already out (that I did not see before I made the comment here) about who might replace Harris and Karen Bass is mentioned near the top in all.
That’s the point, you read a bunch of articles.
That says it all.
It’s good to be well read.
I would compare my prognostication record with anyone else’s, amateur or pro.
Your forecasts are decent, although they are heavily influenced by polls (as they should be). But did any other amateur or pro say that the Democrats in Alabama should nominate a black preacher?
Talking about my actual “predictions” which are finalized right before the election.
Like everyone here and most elsewhere, I thought Roy Moore would narrowly win and was happy he did not.
If Warnock wins in Georgia, that will prove my black preacher theory I suppose.
I want to point out that I predicted Harris on the number two slot for Democrats over a year ago.
Of course, I had her running with Elizabeth Warren as my guess.
But a couple months ago, I suggested she was the overwhelming favorite to be chosen by Biden.
Perhaps – although Alabama and Mississippi are different than most of the south.
I am reminded of the singer Phil Oches who sang songs about racial justice in Mississippi and Alabama in the 60s. I still remember some of those songs. Birmingham Jam comes first to mind.
This continues the trend for Democrats of having two lawyers on every ticket since 2004.
I believe the last the time the D ticket had two non-lawyers was 1972.
The last GOP ticket with two lawyers was 1976.
The last time Republicans had someone on a ticket who had worked as a lawyer was 1996. (Romney had been admitted to the Bar but never practiced.)
Democrats still have not ever had anyone on the ticket who was a professional actor or NFL Quarterback.
Perhaps Milano/Kaepernick ’24
Better two lawyers than a crooked businessman and a bible thumping former radio host.
Tell’m Scott❗️
Your belief, CG, is incorrect. Thomas Eagleton got his law degree from Harvard and Sargent Shriver got his from Yale. Hard to be more establishment than that.
However, if you go back four years, you have two non-lawyers: LBJ was a teacher and Hubert Humphrey a pharmacist.
Or so saith Wikipedia. And has crowd-sourcing ever been fallible??
I looked up Shriver and it didnt say he had practiced law.
So maybe the streak goes even further.
Go back to 1948 and the GOP ticket had two former prosecutors: Thomas Dewey and Earl Warren.
They lost to a haberdasher.
That’s what overconfidence against an incumbent can lead to.
Not unexpected at this point, but this is the third straight election in which all 4 people on the tickets never served in the military.
I would think that has to be a first for three straight elections. It might have even been for two straight.
Doug Emhoff hopes to do what Kitty Dukakis and Haddasah Lieberman did not and become the first Jewish first or second spouse.
Yes, this will probably also help with the fundraising.
Harris is the first woman 9n a ticket who has not given birth.
And while she is a step mom I can’t recall the last non parent in a national ticket–mqle or female.
Some of us could hold THAT against her ..
It would be sexist….
But it IS something some of us think she is missing…
Seriously James? Who gives a damn if the Pres or VP birthed out of or fathered a kid?
The anti-Murphy Brown argument? She should have had a kid as a single woman?
Not a problem for Trump Scott….
Some of us do Scott
Just the way it is….
Won’t be deal breaker….
Ain’t the first time it will be brought up…
Keith?
Same thing on the mean and aggressive tag for Harris….
Maybe Sexist , but it ALREADY. has been mentioned….
Won’t cost her Democratic votes, But will rub some the wrong way…
She’s gonna need those as the GOPer’ go after her as a way to hurt Biden …
Bet on it …..
Is it really a negative for you in terms of someone holding an office if she had kids of her own or not? Why?
Who is “us” James? You and who else?
People who feel the same way I do about Kamala …
A guy at work this afternoon repeated the same thing I said about her ‘meanness’ which others call aggression or just plain ambition….
I guess it has worked for her, eh?
James, There is an irony in you calling Harris mean. Unlike you, Harris doesn’t express hatred towards others. Unlike you, Harris doesn’t lie or distort to achieve her objectives. Why hold her to a much tougher standard than you hold yourself?
He’s just mad that Biden didn’t pick Rice and he can’t parade around here with that
“Told ya so”
Routine.
Harris is no “meaner” than anyone else in the political world.Indeed Shes probably much nicer than most of them.
Pure garbage.
I agree, Harris is nicer than most.
Of course she can be tough when she needs to be. And we will need that in a Biden administration. Harris was a great choice.
Actually…
I’m not upset at all at Joe who i respect for making the right political choice as i have said here several times since yesterday…
Rice was the right insider choice…
But it’s about POLITICS and Harris’s ‘mean’ side should serve her well…
As i said….
I’m not alone in my observations…
Translation, “mean” = tough
The Lincoln Project already has a professionally produced pro-Biden-Harris ad. They are quicker than anyone and always have very good ads.
I think Biden owes George Conway a seat on the SCOTUS.
one would imagine they had pre stuff in the can for the top of the list….
I wonder what her Secret Service code name will be?
She should have a detail as of now….
I will be fair and say that he should get the nomination if one of the conservative spots opens up.
I just saw a FB post on the Harris pick by Biden….
ALL the stuff i said would be used against Harris by some ARE RIGHT THERE ALREADY….
Here tone as DA and AG, Willie Brown and her attack Biden…
Harris can handle herself…
But some will seek to harm Biden thru her…
This is normal…
I’m also waiting to see how progressive’s deal with Harris
What about her tone? What about Willie Brown?
What were the complaints?
I was hoping to hear jack’s take on this weekend’s passing of James Harris, aka “Kamala The Ugandan Giant”
Will Pence be allowed to debate Harris without “Mother” in the room?
I like the Harris choice. She will help unify the party even more than it is now. Harris is brilliant, will be effective on the stump and in a debate, and is very likeable. Good choice by Biden.
If I had a criticism about the process, I think Biden made a mistake by early on saying you would nominate a women. And then by saying he was interviewing lots of black women, he really had no choice but to nominate a black woman. If this process continued he might have been forced to nominate a black woman of a certain age group that lived in a certain part of the country.
I think that choosing a black woman was a good idea, but i don’t think it should been a requirement, and that is what it eventually became,
All aboard the crazy train.. Ilhan Omar and Marjorie Green headed to Congress
In regards to Marjorie Greene, I would assume House Republicans have to follow the precedent they set with Steve King and not give her any committee assignments.
Major failure for the party to prevent her from winning the runoff. She won big too apparently. Did nobody try to get Trump to Tweet an endorsement of her opponent? Maybe he refused to.
Ilhan Omar wins Minnesota primary
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) won the Democratic primary against lawyer Antone Melton-Meaux on Tuesday evening, AP reports.
Why it matters: The race is one that’s played out across the U.S. as progressives continue to sweep party nominations. Omar’s win officially means all four progressive members of “The Squad” have won their primary elections.
Will Republicans have more QAnon followers in Congress than people of color?
Sad
Some of the Republican nominees are both
Could they have turned this painfully-protracted process of (ultimately-pointless) speculation into a political version of “The Bachelor” ?
President-presumptive Biden (like the Crown Prince of some tiny but very rich monarchy) walks past all these eager débutantes with a Rose, finally presenting it to Senator Harris, while all the other hopefuls (in full evening dress) smile and congratulate her at the same time they’re jealous, resentful and bitterly-disappointed ?
Charlie Cook and 6 others follow
Noah Wyhof-Rudnick
@rudnicknoah
I actually am curious how the Biden/Harris ticket will do Indian-American outreach – there’s a lot of places it could help electorally with a growing population that is being targeted downballot and also by the Trump campaign
Rachel “The Doc” Bitecofer
@RachelBitecofer
Yes-
@chucktodd
has made a point I want to tweet about- the Harris pick IS like Reagan’s pick of Bush. Biden’s pick of Harris is a message that he is not insecure (like his opponent) & picked an opponent that challenges him. And Biden’s process DID elevate women in the party.
Morning Consult
Democrats were pleased with Biden’s selection of Harris to be his VP last week: 88% said it made them hopeful, and roughly 4 in 5 said it made them confident, proud, happy or excited.
Among Black voters and liberals, the sentiment was roughly the same.
bit.ly/3iPI2NJ
I’m hopeful. The Dems are a party that likes to govern and knows how to. It is a party with extremely competent leaders.
I’m hoping that Joe picks up his campaign after the convention. At this point, we should be seeing more of the nominee. If he has to keep it scripted, then so be it. But he needs to be more visible or people will start coming to conclusions that he doesn’t want.
Not me Z….
Like most others I just want Trump gone…
Biden could nothing….
Trump does enough everyday…
Mind the store, don’t break the crockery and don’t fiddle with the boiler.
Well of course I just want Trump gone too. Are you suggesting I don’t?
I think I have seen more of Amy Klobuchar in the past two months than I have seen Biden. Don’t think that voters aren’t noticing and coming to conclusions..
Nope….
Serious question Zreebs, what are you watching that you haven’t seen Biden?
Yes …
Keith has a point…
Biden has rolled out something everyday…