Biden will hold his own just fine. His memory lapses and stammering are overblown. Sure, I notice them at times but I view him as an elder statesmen...and yes the elder part goes along with statesmen. He seems more or less similar to any given wise 77 year old. He's not as sharp as he once was but still has a treasure trove of experience and foreign relations expertise to draw from. He'll do fine and if Trump picks on him for "senility" it will backfire as more of Trump's childish antics.
you may be right. But I suspect the timing of Klobuchar's bowing out is tied to an informal agreement between her and Biden about her role in a Biden campaign if he's nominated
Oh I agree it is all true of Biden and Trump. We just hear it brought up a lot about Biden, and the reality is that Sanders is slightly older than Biden...... so the concern really is universal for everyone left standing. I know a lot of people at 70 that are essentially as active as some 40-50 year olds.... when you start pushing 80, the number really drops off. As for Trump...... the guy gives hope to all those out of shape, ignorant, sinful white guys that want slam a few viagra and pick up a 40 year old waitress at Shoney's. Oddly enough I think Trump ends up like William Shatner and lives into his 80's..... still contracting diseases, eating KFC and lobbing insults at people.
I can't imagine Biden picking him. Klobuchar, maybe. Even Warren is a possibility, although I very much doubt it. A cabinet position, sure.
Everyone is going to be clamoring for positions to elevate themselves for 2024 if Biden wins because they'll assume he isn't running for 2nd term and want to be the heir apparent. That VP slot on a Biden presidency will be more in demand than any time history. Trump had to go slumming for a VP. Obama picked Biden to beef up his "experience" credentials. Clinton picked a nobody in Tim Kaine under the "do no harm" mandate. McCain picked someone as a hail mary. Bush picked someone he wanted to help run the country. Biden? He'll have every politician who thinks they can run for president someday working to get on that ticket.
Ya, I'm afraid he would die in office and/or be too old to run in 2024, that's why his VP pick matters same as it does for Biden. But Sander's issue is heart problems, not cognitive decline. Like I said in my original post, cognitive decline vs physical ailments is a big difference. Plus, Sanders represents such a positive, fundamental shift in our politics that I'm willing to take the gamble, it's risk/reward calculation. And fyi, I was looking more at Warren earlier in the race but evidently her campaign never picked up steam. Unfortunately all the main candidates are over 75 years old now.
Why? Wasn't this predicable? I said a long time ago that Pete and Amy had no path to the presidency. The only surprise to me is that Elizabeth Warren has been as big of a dud as she has been.
Perhaps, but what did Pete get? Does Klobuchar really help Biden or is it too much over lap? Are most women eventually going to vote for Biden anyway? Does Klobuchar help his appeal to women? My guess is that Klobuchar will get a cabinet position and the same for Pete.
Yeah I don't think Klobuchar helps Biden except in the way of "momentum optics." I don't think she is a needle mover for votes for him tomorrow whereas Pete MIGHT help. I think Klobuchar has a shot for Attorney General. Just don't think she doesn't anything for a ticket.
I agree. I hope he doesn't pick a "nonentity" like Tim Kaine, who brought little to Hillary's ticket, in my opinion.
I think Biden goes with Beto or Castro for VP. I think it'll be Beto. I don't know why, I just feel like it will be Beto. I know the whole Blue Texas has been a myth each and every election cycle but I think it's time to really go after it. There were also some rumors last year that Beto was on top of his list. EDIT: I will add I think Stacey Abrahams has a good shot at it, would be a good choice too. I think it'll be Beto or Stacey, final answer.
I think Klobuchar is potentially much more appealing to moderate and conservative Dems as an actual possibility as President should Joe die or become incapacitated. I can't say that Abrams (or anyone else mentioned so far) can reassure the more conservative and independent voters who are considering Biden come time to pull the lever in November that the VP is a solid backup plan. Say what you will about Pence, but Pence was a very shrewd pick on Trump's part, and was a big reason many on-the-fence voters ended up holding their noses and pulling the lever for Trump. To see how the VP choice can backfire, just take a look at McCain's choice.
Here is an unlikely but morbid scenario. Sanders at 79 (at being sworn in) decides to be the VP for Biden (78) with the belief that Sanders can outlast Biden AND the numbers show there is a 1/4 chance that Biden dies while in office in the next 4 years....... essentially Sanders takes the hail mary because it is his best chance. It is REALLY morbid and sounds absurd, but there is like a 15% chance that scenario would play out (Biden passes and Sanders lives and takes office).
I don't think there's any way the ticket is two white men. Not in the 2020 Democratic Primary after a 2018 election that was driven by minorities and women. Biden also has the McCain question - what happens if he dies in office? The person he picks need to be seen as a credible President, which adds another layer of fun to the choice. This is part of what made Palin a joke.
I can easily see Abrams as a VP possibility. And while I think Harris doesn't offer the balance that Abrams does, she is a wickedly sharp speaker and would be good at attacking trump. A few other possibilities: Michelle Lujan Grisham, Tammy Baldwin, Tammy Duckworth, and Steve Bullock. Heck, I wonder if Biden could surprise with Susanna Martinez... former republican governor of NM?