Why Joe Biden should pick 'that governor' to be his running mate - Karen Tumulty

[question everything]

Former vice president Joe Biden has already announced his plans to pick a female running mate. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that “that governor" should be at the top of his list. She is Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), who seems to be getting under President Trump’s skin as she stands up for her state, which has not been getting adequate help from the federal government during the coronavirus crisis.

While Whitmer was waiting for Washington to approve disaster aid for Michigan, the president attacked her during a call-in interview Thursday on Sean Hannity’s show. His complaint: She was insufficiently obsequious at what is a life-or-death moment for her constituents. Servility is a condition of employment at the White House, of course. But there is something in particular about a woman who refuses to pay him homage that seems to drive Trump around the bend. (See: Pelosi, Nancy.)

Michigan has been one of the hardest-hit states by the pandemic, and its governor has not been shy in calling out the federal government for sending woefully inadequate protective gear for its medical personnel on the front lines. Whitmer pointed out that one recent delivery of masks, gowns, face shields and gloves from the national strategic stockpile to a hospital in southeast Michigan was, with the exception of the gloves, barely enough to cover the needs of a single workshift at the hospital.

(snip)

She added in a subsequent tweet that she is “happy to work with the VP! We get along well.” All of which infuriated Trump even more. “Don’t call the woman in Michigan,” he instructed his vice president during his news conference on Friday, adding: “I want them to be appreciative.” But by Saturday morning, he had approved Michigan’s disaster declaration.

(snip)

There has been some talk that he should abandon his pledge to select a woman as his running mate, and tap New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who has been earning high praise for his handling of the crisis. But Cuomo has insisted he doesn’t want the nod. By selecting Whitmer — whose endorsement no doubt boosted the former vice president in his staggering victory over Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the March 10 Michigan primary — Biden could get both a woman and a competent governor.

As Biden himself pointed out: "Donald Trump could learn a thing or two from Governor Whitmer — speed matters, details matter, and people matter. She’s secured more than 10 million N95 masks, more than 4 million gloves, thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer, and critical equipment for health care providers.” Something else: After all this is over, voters will remember who put their needs front and center when they were in the fight of their lives. And Trump might, finally, be able to remember “that governor’s” name.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/28/why-joe-biden-should-pick-that-governor-be-his-running-mate


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She had a very impressive appearance on PBS NewsHour on Frida

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213188335

[Pathwalker]

1. She has said repeatedly that she's not interested.

She's staying here to take care of Michigan, where we need her.

[Cha]

14. Good MIchigan needs her.. right!

[RockRaven]

2. Coronavirus will be a problem requiring active management in every state between now and Nov.

Sorry to say, but Biden cannot pick ANY governor as VP.

Every single one of them, if chosen, would be vilified for pursuing personal ambition over duty every time they do a campaign event and every time their state experiences a CV setback, regardless of the facts of any distraction/neglect or not.

[denem]

3. It's Harris. Case Closed.

[Dem4Life1102]

4. It might be Harris

The case isn’t closed.

[denem]

5. Pending due diligence.

[question everything]

15. Not until she apologized for her attack

during the debate.

But I think that she would be better as a AG

[denem]

18. Apparently Harris will have to apologize to Jill.

To Joe? He's a professional politician who knows how the game is played. What he is likely to have said is something along the lines of keeping staff away from background the press and steering clear of t-shirts.

[Skya Rhen]

19. This! A million times - this!

[roamer65]

6. I want her as a two term governor, then a US senator.

[BComplex]

7. It has to be Warren.

She's the smartest and most talented and most popular of all. Best name recognition too.

[comradebillyboy]

8. How can he pick someone who

hasn't endorsed him?

[Drunken Irishman]

13. I mean, Obama picked Biden and Biden didn't endorse his campaign after bowing out.

I get that Biden was not near the primary player Warren is but he didn't endorse.

[BlueCheese]

12. I feel like the VP choice will be someone quite a bit younger-- probably under 60.

I'd love for it to be Warren myself, but don't think it will happen for that reason.

[question everything]

16. Not until she endorses him and apologize for her attacks on him

[question everything]

22. Only two attacked him and should apologize. And Warren should at least endorse

him or come out and declare that she is not interested. Now this will show how she "stands on principles."

From this list

1. Kamala Harris
2. Amy Klobuchar:
3. Elizabeth Warren
4. Gretchen Whitmer
5. Catherine Cortez Masto
6. Tammy Duckworth
7. Stacey Abrams
8. Tammy Baldwin
9. Keisha Lance Bottoms
10. Michelle Lujan Grisham

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287690232

[Mr.Bill]

9. We need a bumper sticker that says

Biden/That Woman
2020

[Hav]

10. It will greatly depend on the development of the corona crisis

whether one of the Governors currently in the spotlight would even be realistically available. No Governor will leave the current work to fight this crisis before everything is in order just to go campaigning. I seriously doubt that all will be over in the next 2-3 months when I suppose the VP decision will be made. The appearance of abandoning your state would be terrible.

There is currently some hype about certain politicians because of the circumstances of the moment. The reason they are in the spotlight is because of the severity of the situation and because of the job they are doing and need to do. Anything else is a silly distraction for them.

[musicman65]

17. Too bad She will not do it however,,,

we need Her here in Michigan,very much to do as She is qualified for

[Awsi Dooger]

23. Let her do a great job in Michigan and campaign for Biden

Maybe that's worth one point. I'm not sure. Every point is crucial in a race that shapes up as far fewer late undecideds than 2016.