Harris Is Historic Pick for VP. Will It Help Biden in November?
Former Vice President Biden chooses Harris as his own VP. How will this influence the fall presidential election?
In a historic move, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden selected his running mate, former primary opponent Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA).
“I have seen her in many different settings, she’s a very real and human person.” — Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI).
Harris is a former prosecutor and attorney general of California. She the first Black woman and the first Asian American woman to appear on a major party presidential ticket.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was also on Biden’s shortlist for vice president.
Listen: Guests on the relevance of the Biden’s VP pick to his campaign against Trump.
Guests
Vanessa Williams is a national reporter for the Washington Post who has covered Biden’s potential choice for vice president and the widespread push for Biden to pick a Black woman as his running mate.
“The calculation was made that she was a well-rounded package and she bought other strengths to the ticket,” says Williams on Biden’s choice.
Harris has faced criticism for her record as a local prosecutor and state attorney general, especially in the wake of recent protests against police violence and the disproportionate impact of the criminal justice system in Black communities. However, “People who are motivated to see a change in the White House aren’t going to let that stop them,” says Williams.
Williams adds that she believes that Harris and Biden will have to work on a message and agenda that will give apprehensive voters a reason to support the ticket.
Matt Grossmann is an assistant professor of political science and director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University.
“There’s not much evidence that [running mate choices] swing states or regions or social groups affiliated with the candidate,” says Grossmann. “They can change voters’ image of the nominee, and they can also move voters’ perceptions of the presidential candidate’s ideology.”
Grossmann says that since Harris is considered comparably ideologically left to Biden, this could make a difference.
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) has publicly endorsed Joe Biden’s campaign for president and his selection of Kamala Harris for vice president.
“I think Joe Biden picked someone he is comfortable with, it will be a very strong ticket,” says Dingell. Dingell says that Gov. Whitmer was also a great choice for the job, and praises the representation of strong women in politics in the final list.
“I have seen her in many different settings, she’s a very real and human person,” says Dingell. “But one of the things we have got to get over is that if one woman does well, another woman doesn’t.”
This article was written by Detroit Today student producer Lauryn Azu.
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