Joe Biden guarantees a WOMAN will be his running mate firing the starting gun on race to join his ticket
- Biden said unequivocally at the CNN debate he would select a woman as his running mate
- Also says he will put an African American woman on the Supreme Court
- Said there are a ‘number of women’ qualified to be president
- Sanders responded that he would select a woman ‘in all likelihood’
- Biden, 77, would be the oldest president to take the oath
Former Vice President Joe Biden stated unequivocally Sunday that he will select a woman as his running mate if he gets the Democratic nomination.
‘If I’m elected president, my cabinet, my administration will look like the country and I commit that I will, in fact, appoint a woman to be vice president,’ Biden said a CNN debate in Washington with Sen. Bernie Sanders.
‘There are a number of women qualified to be president tomorrow,’ Biden continued. ‘I would pick a woman to be my vice president.’
Democratic presidential hopeful former US vice president Joe Biden says he will select a woman as his running mate if he gets the Democratic nomination
Biden has long indicated that he was inclined to put a woman on the ticket.
Co-moderator Dana Bash confirmed Biden’s language. ‘Just to be clear, you just committed here tonight if you get the nomination your running mate will be a woman?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ Biden responded.
Asked to respond, Sanders took on Biden’s long voting records, as he did throughout the two-man debate, but made his own commitment clear on a follow-up.
‘In all likelihood, I will,’ said Sanders. ‘To me, it’s not just nominating a woman. It is making sure that we have a progressive woman and there are progressive women out there. So my very strong tendency is to move in that direction,’ he said.
Sen. Bernie Sanders responded that he would select a woman ‘in all likelihood’
The two men faced off in a CNN debate with no audience present
Biden had to fend off repeated attacks from Sanders even after fighting his way to a strong delegate lead
Biden also said he will nominate an African American woman on the Supreme Court, saying it was past time they be represented there. ‘It’s long overdue,’ said Biden.
He notably did not make a commitment on race relating to the vice presidential slot.
Rep. James C. Clyburn of South Carolina, a key black leader in Congress, said in February: ‘We’ve reached a point in this country where African American women need to be rewarded for the loyalty that they’ve given to this party,’ and reportedly urged Biden to do so.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren dropped out late in the race and has yet to endorse
Biden could chose a female senator who also contended for the nomination
Biden must balance geography, ideology, and demographics as a choses a running mate
Clyburn gave key support to Biden in South Carolina, and black voters helped bring him from underdog to favorite in the primary.
California Sen. Kamal Harris has been mentioned as a possible running mate since ending her own presidential effort, although Harris during her own bid took heat from the left for her actions as a former prosecutor. Biden has talked up Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost the Georgia governorship, although she has not held high federal office.
If he wants to appeal to disaffected Sanders supporters, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts is an option. She has yet to endorse and is thought to have leverage in the race. Others mentioned include Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who ended her presidential bid and endorsed before the Minnesota primary, which Biden won, former impeachment manager Rep. Sylvia Garcia, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker appeared onstage with Harris and Whitmer to back Biden before the Michigan primary last week, but according to Biden’s latest pronouncement is not on the list.
Former Vice President Walter Mondale put Geraldine Ferraro on the ticket in 1984, while Sen. John McCain selected former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in 2008.
Biden, 77, would be the oldest president to take the oath, placing special emphasis on the decision.