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* This has been bubbling for a while. Sen. Duckworth is a solid person. Biden has said he will choose a woman running mate, but Illinois is already in the bag for the Democrats and I’m not sure that she helps drive African-Americans to the polls, so we’ll see…
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is going to interview soon for the post of former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate, her fellow Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said Friday.
Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, has said he will select a woman as his running mate and announced a vice presidential search committee late last month. In recent days, speculation about Duckworth as a possibility has steadily increased as the senator has been more visible on television in recent weeks and participated in virtual events for the Biden campaign.
Asked Friday morning in Chicago about whether he thought Duckworth was a realistic possibility as Biden’s VP pick, Durbin indicated she was under consideration.
“I support Tammy Duckworth. She’s spectacular, a great colleague and I hope that she fares well in this interview, which I think is going to take place soon,” Durbin said outside the Cook County Hospital after he visited a COVID-19 testing facility. “And I’m totally in support of her.”
This is Illinois-related, but it’s also presidential politics. So take a very deep breath or three before commenting, please. Thanks.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:18 pm
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Who would be appointed to take her place should this happen?
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:26 pm
Good for her. I don’t think she gets it, however, for the stated reason and I don’t think her national profile is high enough. I expect it will be Harris or Klobuchar, though the Michigan Governor Whitmer would be interesting as well, since she represents a battleground state and is polling significantly higher than the President there.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:28 pm
I’ve warmed to her over the past few years. Personally think she has really grown into the roll as US Senator. And she has been much more visible on a national front the past few months.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:30 pm
Woman, minority, military veteran (plus purple heart), resides in a state where a Democrat will appoint her successor. Checks a lot of boxes.
By the way, also qualified to step in if the worst happens to the President.
Comment by SAP Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:34 pm
She is absolutely the best option for Biden. She checks every single box. Nobody else does.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:37 pm
Nice honor for Senator Duckworth, but odds are that it will be one of the three (Abrams, Harris, Klobuchar). If - and it’s a big if - there would be a replacement the Governor would be under pressure to not choose a white Democrat but, instead, someone Asian/Pacific, Hispanic, African-American… to follow Duckworth.
Comment by west wing Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:37 pm
I can hear Pritzker now: I’ve got this thing and it’s ————— golden.
Comment by Rural Stuff Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:38 pm
VP, seriously?? Yes, she checks boxes, but that’s about it. I honor her for her service to this country and the sacrifices she has made, but what has she done as a senator?? Can’t think of anything.
Comment by Left Center Right Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:38 pm
Would be excellent choice but agree with Rich I don’t see how she helps Biden.
Comment by Hard D Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:41 pm
Left Center Right, off the top of your head, what did Barack Obama do in the Senate? Joe Biden, what was his greatest senatorial accomplishment? Nobody remembers anything Senators do, unless it was really bad.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:42 pm
If this comes to a conclusion, where the Senator is indeed chosen, the Governor has the perfect replacement. The Lt. Governor. She would fit the job, and mark off all the boxes. (Just an idea.)
Comment by Retired Educator Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:42 pm
Good for Senator Duckworth, but if Biden was open to selecting a running mate from Illinois I’d favor Robin Kelly ahead of her.
Comment by The Captain Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:43 pm
===Can’t think of anything.===
538 has a nice summary of all bills and appointments Duckworth voted on in their “tracking Congress” section. And you can go to her website too. Honestly the information is easy to access.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:47 pm
Senator Duckworth is super and would be great - but she is from Illinois, and Biden will carry Illinois. He needs to pick someone from a state that he needs.Someone that will add to the ticket.
Comment by Professor Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:52 pm
He has to consider every Democratic female Governor and Senator, and most Representatives, so this shouldn’t be a surprise.
Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, May 15, 20 @ 1:59 pm
Great choice as a person, not great politically. Illinois is gonna be in the blue camp…need to go to a swing state and pick a woman, if this election is close then this choice could be the one that makes or breaks the whole deal
Comment by Elliott Ness Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:05 pm
Intersectionality
Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:05 pm
I think it’s wonderful Biden has so many qualified women from which to choose his running mate. Duckworth is one. Glad it’s not me who has to make the decision.
Comment by Don't Bloc Me In Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:07 pm
===Who would be appointed to take her place should this happen? ===
At list this time around we’d have a Governor that is independently wealthy so we don’t have to worry about them trying to sell it.
=== So take a very deep breath or three before commenting, please. Thanks. ===
After a few deep breaths and given the extent to which the federal investigations were occurring in Chicago, along with her prior involvement in the State government’s administration, I have great empathy for the difficult task ahead for the Biden campaign’s VP Vetting team.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:14 pm
Meh.
It is what it is.
Due diligence.
I know it’s not to secure Illinois.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:31 pm
Abrams, Harris, Klobuchar are not high on my list. Will be voting Democratic for President Regardless because Trump has to go. Hadn’t considered Duckworth, but I like it. She’s also much younger than Biden, a plus I think. That’s the biggest issue against Warren. And we’d love to hear the words Cadet Bone Spur on the campaign trail.
Comment by thoughts matter Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:31 pm
I like Tammy Duckworth, but wouldn’t Biden get a better pop by making her head of the VA?
Pro: She’d be a trailblazer in that role. Con: calling the VA a cesspool insults cesspools.
For both: She’s got a young daughter. Does she truly want the headaches either job would bring at this time in her family’s life?
Comment by Lynn S. Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:32 pm
He really needs to pick an African American woman, since AAs basically saved his campaign in SC. When there is a qualified AA female senator (Harris) from a state where the seat will remain in Dem hands, there would have to be a really good reason not to go with her when AAs need some concrete payback to drive turnout in the fall. Stacy Abrams, who seems like a rising star, needs to win higher office first (like Mayor Pete). Joe might not like her as much after that big debate takedown, but he needs to get past that.
Comment by Jibba Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:35 pm
We might all be missing the most important question.
Is Tammy Duckworth ready to be President of the United States?
That’s the only qualification that really matters.
Comment by Candy Dogood Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:36 pm
== Who would be appointed to take her place should this happen? ==
Roland Burris. /s
To the original post: I like Senator Duckworth, and think she’s a decent Senator. I have some questions about her readiness for the VP position, but that’s not my call to make.
Comment by thunderspirit Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:41 pm
Great pick, and not simply a great female pick. Would also be great if the Supreme Court would actually settle the matter of what it means to be a “natural born citizen” so we could avoid the perennial “debate” on the question.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/natural-born-issue-ted-cruz-not-settled-not-going-away-n499226
Comment by natty lite Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:44 pm
=== Is Tammy Duckworth ready to be President of the United States?
That’s the only qualification that really matters.===
This is the correct answer.
The rest is the politics after… to her own qualifications.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:45 pm
Blago is trying to reach JB after he heard of this story…”Ya know Gov, I could be a great Senator plus it would be a wonderful story of redemption, heck if Marv Albert came back why can’t I? I never bit anyone?
Comment by 10th Ward Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:46 pm
I’m thinking the state strategy isn’t that relevant anymore. Wasn’t ‘96 the last time a winning ticket won their swing states (Arkansas and Tennessee)?
Personally, she’s my favorite but that’s likely because of my home state bias and my appreciation for her service.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Friday, May 15, 20 @ 2:55 pm
“Illinois is already in the bag for the Democrats and I’m not sure that she helps drive African-Americans to the polls”
If Sen. Duckworth ultimately gets the nod, we’ll know that a lot of people who were asked declined.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Friday, May 15, 20 @ 3:03 pm
=== Would also be great if the Supreme Court would actually settle the matter of what it means to be a “natural born citizen” so we could avoid the perennial “debate” on the question.===
Debate? McCain was born abroad, with American parent, like Duckworth. I don’t remember anyone questioning his natural born citizenship.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Friday, May 15, 20 @ 3:07 pm
Sen. Duckworth doesn’t add anything Biden doesn’t already own to the ticket. He needs a dynamic (and younger) campaigner who will appeal to those who are undecided or unexcited about Biden himself. Warren has the experience and energy but she has more influence in the Senate. Harris is a strong candidate. Klobuchar brings neither dynamism nor a strong following to the ticket. Abrahams is not ready to become president. She needs time in a national office. There are a lot of great women and men in the wings but not so many who bring enough experience on the national/international stage, name recognition and youth/energy to carry the day with Biden.
Comment by Froganon Friday, May 15, 20 @ 3:07 pm
Those of you that keep bringing up Kamala Harris - have you not been paying attention? Harris comes with entirely too much baggage to be a viable VP, at the present time. Would you seriously want her a missed heartbeat away from the Oval Office? I can’t say “yes” to that question.
Comment by Reality Check Friday, May 15, 20 @ 3:22 pm
Reality Check…most people come with baggage, and the reality is that the top of the ticket is who you vote for, not the VP (see Quayle). Most vocal opposition to Harris is from a minority of progressive Dems, but if they accept Biden then Harris will prove fatal. She might even be attractive to Trump-hating conservatives. Her positives outweigh her negatives by miles given the African American turnout. She is sufficiently effective in debates that Pence needs to be a little scared.
Comment by Jibba Friday, May 15, 20 @ 3:38 pm
NOT prove fatal…
Comment by Jibba Friday, May 15, 20 @ 3:39 pm
I totally agree with Candy Dogood. The only question that really matters is whether Duckwworth is capable of being president, literally in a heartbeat. I think she would be, and I’m a moderate Republican (I think there’s 6 of us left now in the world). NPR did a piece last election about whether VP candidates really help the electoral calculus. Spoiler alert– they don’t.
https://www.npr.org/2016/06/01/480038429/swing-state-vp-picks-dont-help-candidates-much-so-what-does-work
Comment by The Ford Lawyer Friday, May 15, 20 @ 3:39 pm
VP choices don’t really add votes, but they can take away votes. I voted for McCain in spite of Palin, others didn’t.
I don’t think it will matter who the VP pick is this time. It’s the top of the ticket that matters now in terms of votes. In terms of what might happen during the term, yes it will matter.
Comment by thoughts matter Friday, May 15, 20 @ 3:49 pm
She has zero chance of being picked. Illinois will be Dem in November no matter who is running and she isn’t AA.
Comment by Sue Friday, May 15, 20 @ 3:53 pm
Sen. Duckworth is very qualified and would make an excellent president if needed. that’s first need. But we are talking about how to motivate votes in needed states. We don’t need California (or Harris’ personal baggage). We might need Minnestota, but could need more. What states do the Dems need to get to win? Who can help them do that? For the first time, the voting population of Latinx is the largest minority voting population. this factors in to several states. Nevada and Texas, but also Florida and North Carolina. You have to take a serious look at Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Both have extensive local, state and national experience and both are highly qualified to serve as President.
Comment by Amalia Friday, May 15, 20 @ 3:56 pm
–Debate? McCain was born abroad, with American parent, like Duckworth. I don’t remember anyone questioning his natural born citizenship.–
McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone when it was a US Territory. Qualitative difference between Canada (Cruz) and Thailand (Duckworth) which I agree would be good to have resolved, and I don’t think is a big deal if one of the parents is a citizen.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, May 15, 20 @ 4:07 pm
-VP choices don’t really add votes, but they can take away votes. I voted for McCain in spite of Palin, others didn’t.-
The Palin pick was a fatal blow to me with McCain, a man I greatly respected and really, really wish was still with us.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Friday, May 15, 20 @ 4:09 pm
The old rule is still true
If you’re not hurting you’re helping…. if you’re not helping you’re hurting.
That’s the VP pick too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 15, 20 @ 4:11 pm
Big Bad Wolf, there was extensive debate about McCain in 2008 (and various other candidates over time) as discussed at the below link. Constitutionally, these are not straightforward questions, but they never get settled legally and just continue to kick around to let fringe groups and legal columnists argue. (McCain’s case is actually really interesting as a historical matter.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural-born-citizen_clause
Comment by natty lite Friday, May 15, 20 @ 4:22 pm
The question of qualifications I think is really important in particular this time because it’s a distinct possibility Biden is planning on 1 term and then handing it off to his VP. It will be interesting to see who he picks but I don’t think it will be Senator Duckworth.
Comment by MyTwoCents Friday, May 15, 20 @ 4:26 pm