Tammy Duckworth being mentioned as Joe Biden starts to vet vice presidential picks – By Lynn Sweet (Chicago Sun-Times) / April 27 2020
Only two women have been major-party candidates for vice president: in 1984, Democrat Geraldine Ferraro of New York and in 2008 Alaska GOP Gov. Sarah Palin.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden is poised to formally kick off his vice president search this week, with Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., among those mentioned as a potential contender.
Biden has already promised to pick a female running mate, and while on the “The Late Late Show with James Corden” recently, he said his panel of advisers to vet prospects should be in place by May 1.
He added that up to five potential picks will be given screening interviews by his aides. The former vice president said he wanted the field narrowed to two or three finalists by July.
Biden, familiar with the vice presidential screening process – he obviously made all the cuts to end up running with Barack Obama – told Corden that most important is that when his selection is announced, “The public would look at that person and say, ‘She is capable of being president of the United States tomorrow.’”
He also shared the advice ex-President Obama gave him: “Pick someone who has some background or some competence that may not be your strong point; make sure that you are able to make up for each others weaknesses.”
Unfortunately, only two women in U.S. history have been major-party candidates for vice president: in 1984, Democrat Walter Mondale tapped Rep. Geraldine Ferraro of New York and in 2008 Republican Sen. John McCain picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Continue to article: https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2020/4/27/21239204/sen-tammy-duckworth-joe-biden-vet-vice-presidential-picks
