Biden says he would consider O'Rourke or Castro as running mates

[brooklynite]

Politico

Former Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday he would consider former presidential candidates Beto O’Rourke and Julián Castro to be a running mate or a member of his Cabinet if he is elected president.

O’Rourke, a former Texas congressman and high-profile 2018 Senate candidate, was an early frontrunner for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination before fading into the field's lower tiers and dropping out in early November. Castro, the former secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Barack Obama, ended his yearlong campaign earlier this month after struggling in the polls. Biden said he has spoken with both of them since their exits.

“My plea to both of them is that they stay engaged,” Biden said Wednesday in an interview with The Dallas Morning News. “They are talented, talented people.”

Biden also told The Sacramento Bee on Tuesday that he would consider another former 2020 rival, California Sen. Kamala Harris, for “anything that she would be interested in,” including vice president. Harris and Biden notably sparred on the debate stage early in the primary process, when the senator was critical of Biden's past opposition to federally mandated busing to diversify schools.

The former vice president, among the leaders in the race for the Democratic nomination, has publicly kept an open mind about a potential running mate, telling attendees at a town hall event last December that he would consider picking a Republican to join his ticket, although he said he could not think of one specifically whom he might select.

[OKNancy]

1. O'Rourke might be a good strategic move

I've been told by posters that the state someone is from doesn't matter anymore.
I tend to think it does matter. If Texas is swinging blue, it would be major. Even if we didn't win, the Republicans would have to spend lots of money there.
Oh, and O'Rourke would help in Arizona and maybe even Florida.

[coti]

24. If Biden was already planning to compete in Texas, could be a very, very good move. nt

[liskddksil]

2. Beto all the way!

He's been all action lately with his new Powered by People PAC that is working to flip the Texas legislature Blue. He's been out canvassing almost every day this week for state legislative candidates like Eliz Markowitz and also Congressional candidates like Sima Ladjevardian.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. I want to see a woman on the ticket.

It is way past the time.

Plus Biden wouldn't likely do a second term, and a lady would be a natural successor.

[Perseus]

4. Two days ago it was Kamala Harris, now is O'Rourke or Castro, even though Castro endorsed Warren

I hope he doesn't forget he said that "whatever Harris wants she gets, or was it I will do whatever Harris wants...something like that", she may want the VP post, maybe not a good idea to start offering it to these two. Didn't he also say he would consider Stacey Abrams for VP? I guess there are plenty of good choices.

[Mr.Bill]

5. What he said was he would

consider Harris for anything she wants. I would imagine he would consider many people for each job, as any candidate for President would.

[Perseus]

11. Hey Mr. Bill and Ontexan, I am not criticizing Biden for saying what he said

yes, there are lot of great choices, I just hope he stops offering the same positions to so many people for now. First step is? get the nomination.

And this is what he said:

Biden says he’d consider Kamala Harris ‘for anything’ she wants

[link:https://www.pressherald.com/2020/01/14/biden-says-hed-consider-kamala-harris-for-anything-she-wants/|

And she may want the VP position.

[Mr.Bill]

15. I'm not defensive about it,

but what you put in quotes in post #4 was very inaccurate, even though you did qualify it with "or something like that." Saying she will get anything she wants is miles away from saying she will be considered for anything she wants. Thank you for correcting it in your other post.

[TwilightZone]

26. He hasn't offered the position to anyone.

"Consider" and "offered" aren't interchangeable concepts.

[elleng]

27. Exactly

[onetexan]

8. You gotta read between the lines here

The questions were asked of him on the fly. What was he to do - be presumptuous & give out an exact name when he isn't yet the mominee? What he means is all the names mentioned are worth considering.

[Perseus]

13. "What was he to do"????

What he should do every time:
1. Pause
2. Breath deep
3. Think about the answer well, very well
4. Answer.

or make it even simpler:
"I am not going to talk about that now, first I need to get the nomination, we have a lot of very capable people in the Democratic party who can serve well on any position, but its to early to talk about that."

[elleng]

31. Right

[IronLionZion]

6. So he's making a play for Texas

bold move. That's assuming he can win the midwestern states that Trump stole from us.

A woman would be great, but a Latino should be fine too. Might be pursuing a southwestern strategy and try for Arizona too.

[onetexan]

9. Joe's been polling well in the rustbelt states

OH, PA, IL, WI, MI, VA...its about time a Dem candidate makes a play for Tx. The Idiot's approval rating here is barely a 1 on Morning Consult's tracking by state. I think of all the candidates Biden's got the biggest chance to win Tx.

[squirecam]

14. Nope

Pick someone in the midwest.

And female.

[liskddksil]

20. If its Biden we should already have the rust belt covered

we need to make a play for the sun belt because that's were trends are moving

[squirecam]

23. Nope

Don’t leave anything to chance. We don’t need Texas. Or Georgia. Or Florida.

We do need the Midwest.

[DonCoquixote]

34. and not pickign pete or casto

Wins the midwest? And picking amy does? Funny, that can be a hell of a gamble, especially as Amy will not attract the liberals like Warren, nor attract the conservatives who will just , given the choice between a dem moderate and trump, pick trump.

[Thekaspervote]

32. Yes!!

[Mr.Bill]

7. If he announce O'Rourke as his VP,

ten million automatic weapons would be sold between the convention and the election. And probably another ten million between the election and the inauguration.

[liskddksil]

22. Who gives a crap about the gun humpers who would never vote for us anyways? Suburban moms

want gun control.

[Perseus]

29. Is that a good thing? I don't understand your statement.

You sound excited about that when the rest of the country is wanting gun control and less guns...

[Mr.Bill]

33. Well, I would never say O'Rourke as VP would be a bad thing.

I was just bringing up the fact that when anyone perceived by the gun nuts as anti gun is elected or even running for national office, gun sales go way up because people think they are going to have their guns taken away or won't be able to buy them anymore. A sick but factual phenomenon.

[Perseus]

35. Got it...thank you.

Yes, that makes sense...

[TexasTowelie]

10. I've said that Beto would be a good VP pick since he withdrew.

I don't recall him criticizing any of the other candidates while he was in the presidential race and Trump continues to be afraid of him even after he withdrew. I believe Trump criticized him a couple weeks ago.

While some might want a more balanced ticket with regards to race or gender, I want a ticket that can win. Putting 38 electoral votes into play provides a backup plan to trying to win the Rust Belt states.

[SKKY]

12. Biden/Harris would be a brutal ticket for the Republicans to attack...

...lots to like about that pairing.

[Mr.Bill]

17. If she was VP, they would probably

breathe a sigh of relief that she was not the AG.

[helpisontheway]

16. Uh..Castro endorsed Warren..Obviously he does not agree with Biden's policies. Nt

[aikoaiko]

18. Castro makes sense but not Beto.

Castro can help with TX, but doesn't have the Beto baggage.

[liskddksil]

19. Beto is way more popular in Texas because he stepped up in 2018 when the Castros wussed out nt

[Act_of_Reparation]

21. "I'd consider it" is Joe's go-to answer for any VP-related question.

A non-answer to what is at this stage of the game a non-question.

[babylonsister]

25. Biden: 'I'd add' Warren to my list of potential VP picks

Biden: 'I'd add' Warren to my list of potential VP picks

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/473607-biden-id-add-warren-to-my-list-of-potential-vp-picks

[Buzz cook]

28. Way way to early to mention VP candidates by name.

It fore warns the opposition and it just serves to feed press speculation about the game, instead of policy.

[lunasun]

30. Castro may bring progressives and Latino votes plus he has seriously addressed BLM and goes beyond

the middle class vote pool imo
He could be a bridge to Warren voters etc for Biden who needs enthusiasm from every faction to beat cheating trump . Unity is important for Dems this time

Beto will unify gun humpers imo, although I myself do like what he has to say it would be more of a distraction than say Castro on police brutality or immigration .

[pansypoo53219]

36. as long as it isn't a lieberfuckenputz or kaine pick.