August 11, 2020 | Reading Time: < 1 minute
Biden picks Harris
It finally happened. Joe Biden announced today that his running mate will be Kamala Harris. Here’s what I said about her Friday: “No one knows if running mates matter, but an argument about Harris as Biden’s running mate is a good argument. To pick Harris is to say to the Democratic base: yes, it can happen…
It finally happened. Joe Biden announced today that his running mate will be Kamala Harris. Here’s what I said about her Friday: “No one knows if running mates matter, but an argument about Harris as Biden’s running mate is a good argument. To pick Harris is to say to the Democratic base: yes, it can happen here. A United States senator from California, former prosecutor and biracial daughter of immigrants could be president one day—if you make it happen. Even if that never happens, the mere possibility of it happening might be enough, in the age of Donald Trump, to supercharge Democratic turnout, fueling a landslide election, which is probably the only thing that would push Trump out of office.” May it be so. —John Stoehr
John Stoehr is the editor of the Editorial Board. He writes the daily edition. Find him @johnastoehr.
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Amen
I love it.
John, how much do you think her age, 55, played in this decision? Biden had to make a decision, select Harris and annoy the Bernie Progressives, or select Warren and annoy those pushing for a woman of color to be on the ticket. I never thought any others were serious contenders, some were just smoke screens. The one issue Biden could not get around is the uneasiness voters have about his (and Trump’s) age and energy (physical and mental). At 55, and a high energy person, I think this was the key aspect in the decision over Warren. And, by the way, fully a justified consideration.
Yes her age mattered a great deal to Biden’s decision making for the reasons you outline. Other candidates were of similar age, though. So age was an important reason among many other reasons.