California takes starring role in VP search as Karen Bass ascends and Kamala Harris comes under fire

[ucrdem]

Los Angeles Times, AUG. 4, 2020 5 AM

With speculation over Joe Biden’s choice of a running mate hitting peak breathlessness, the inclusion of two prominent California Democrats on his shortlist is stirring up the Golden State political scene.

The guessing game over the vice-presidential pick — a quadrennial tradition — has centered its focus of late on Sen. Kamala Harris, long considered a front-runner for the job, and Rep. Karen Bass, a newly ascendant contender. The two women hail from opposite parts of the state and have substantially different resumes, but their fate on the presidential ticket has become inextricably linked, thanks to unusually public jockeying by allies on their behalf.

The maneuvers, both overt and private, underscore the high stakes that come with simply being mentioned as a vice-presidential prospect.

“For both Harris and Bass, being seriously considered by Biden means a boost in their future credibility and visibility,” said Rose Kapolczynski, a longtime Democratic strategist in the state. “It lets Kamala recover from a rocky campaign of her own. And it takes a little-known SoCal member of Congress and catapults her onto the national scene.”

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-08-04/kamala-harris-karen-bass-biden-vp?utm_source=sfmc_100035609&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=28807+Today%27s+Headlines+8%2f4%2f20&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.latimes.com%2fpolitics%2fstory%2f2020-08-04%2fkamala-harris-karen-bass-biden-vp&utm_id=11272&sfmc_id=685701

[ucrdem]

1. here is some fresh info:

The break in the ranks started when labor icon Dolores Huerta, who was a co-chair for Harris’ failed presidential bid, endorsed Bass, citing her leadership as then-California Assembly speaker navigating massive budget deficits.

Then John Burton, a former California Democratic Party chair, told Politico that Harris’ debate clash with Biden could be exploited by the Trump campaign.

And last week, the Sacramento Bee editorial board, led by a former Harris aide, endorsed Bass for the job, in part because of the senator’s tenure as California attorney general. The editorial singled out a $400,000 settlement paid by the Department of Justice to settle harassment claims against a former top Harris staffer.

[Demsrule86]

20. Bass and Cuba is an issue and the Scientology thing...going to be Duckworth.

[Laelth]

2. Little known?

Only to those not paying attention. Karen Bass was Speaker of the California Assembly and is currently the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

She’s also a hard-core liberal. Take a look:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Bass



-Laelth

[PTWB]

4. The recent story of her signing the praises of Scientology didn't play well.

[ucrdem]

7. That was last week.

[Laelth]

8. No. It didn't.

I think Biden had pretty much settled on Karen Bass (at the suggestion of Chris Dodd) last week when Biden told us he would make his announcement THIS week. When the Scientology ribbon-cutting event broke, and then when it was shown that Bass had made favorable remarks about Castro as late as 2016, Biden had second thoughts about her. At this point, we’re in limbo and don’t know when Biden will make his VP choice announcement. The most reasonable explanation for the delay is that Biden had second thoughts about Bass.



-Laelth

[ucrdem]

6. Not any more!

Bass has some high-powered endorsers too. And barely a mention of Scientology or Castro in a longish article. But it gets right at Harris' negatives:

Harris’ popularity on the national stage belies a more ambivalent view of her among California political insiders. She is broadly admired as a charismatic figure who has impressively risen to the top of the state’s political ranks. But some say it’s difficult to pin down her core beliefs.

“She has terrific superficial strengths as a candidate. But those who’ve watched her long enough and look at her record think it’s rather shallow,” said a San Francisco Democrat who has known Harris for years. The Democrat requested anonymity in order to speak candidly.

Harris’ hopes to be vice president have been complicated by lingering sensitivities among some in Biden’s camp about their high-profile debate showdown, in which she assailed his work with segregationists to oppose school busing.

[blue cat]

10. I've never heard of her

And there isn’t a lot of time for people to get to know her.

[ananda]

11. Same.

Let's go with Susan Rice or Tammy Duckworth.

[lagomorph777]

14. +1

[Iliyah]

3. No matter who he picks they will be under major ugly fire . .

and RWers will just make up shit and repeat it over and over . .

[agingdem]

5. another "Dems are in disarray" crap waste of print...

let the pearl clutching begin!...the media is itching for a fight...sorry guys, not this time...we're doing just fine...

[ucrdem]

9. It's a longish political analysis with several authors.

I don't have an LAT subscription but for some reason I can read the whole thing. It's very good!

p.s. I thought it was all over for Bass until I saw this today. I'm happy to see that it isn't as I still think she'd be a great veep choice.

[awesomerwb1]

12. For me, my preference is someone younger

Karen Bass will be 67 in November.

[bigtree]

13. LATimes trying to be relevant

[ucrdem]

17. Cheering for the home town girl is all

But I'll be happy with whoever gets on the ticket!

[Basic LA]

22. LAT is the state's biggest & most respected daily.

That makes them relevant as hell, especially on a big California story like this. (My only quibble with the Times is that they dropped their daily TV listings.)

[BSdetect]

15. Nobody who praises scientology ought to be considered. Its a deal breaker.

[Me.]

16. It Has Been Questioned As To Why

These 2 black women are being played off each other when it is not being done to the other potential candidates. Also, that the committee in charge of this search is mostly white men. Mara Gay of the NY Times called it an
unforced error.

[ucrdem]

18. It's partly a California thing

Hollywood vs SF is a long standing rivalry here ..

[Happy Hoosier]

19. Of the current "top" candidates, Bass is the only one I am against.

Her scientology thing and the Castro thing are just a terrible way to start. They'll attack any candidate, but the Castro thing WOULD be used (to good effect, IMO) on us in Florida. Lots of liability for no gain.

[tritsofme]

21. I have a hard time believing Bass is still on the list in any serious way.

[lettucebe]

23. I'd love to see Kamala Harris as Attorney General. Make Barr sweat

This whole thing is a mess. Since when do we all get together and toss around VP ideas? Didn't happen with Clinton, she just suddenly had a pick. Why are we doing this now? It's a ridiculous way to let the other side know who to work on attacking.