Hillary Clinton's VP search moves into more intense phase

[brooklynite]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Clinton's search for a running mate is moving into a more intense phase, according to several Democrats, as aides contact a pared-down pool of candidates to ask for reams of personal information and set up interviews with the presumptive Democratic nominee's vetting team.

Those on the shortlist include Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a favorite of progressives who has emerged as a blistering critic of presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump; Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, a well-liked lawmaker from an important general election battleground state; and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro of Texas, a rising star in the Democratic Party.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Clinton's toughest primary rival, is not on the shortlist of vice presidential candidates, according to one Democrat.

A small group of Clinton campaign confidants has been sifting through publicly available information about more than two dozen possible contenders for more than a month. But with Democratic primary voting wrapping up last week, the list has been culled significantly and the campaign has begun contacting those under consideration.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/34754b3f14df44a8b46af28158b9e9a7/hillary-clintons-vp-search-moves-more-intense-phase?platform=hootsuite

[liberal N proud]

1. Julian Castro

[liberalnarb]

5. Why Castro?

What makes you want him? (I'm not looking for an argument, I'm just curious)

[liberal N proud]

42. He is considered a rising star in the Democratic Party

Was a star at the 2012 convention and gave a resounding speech.

I also think it would also solidify Hispanic support. He is also younger.

[OnDoutside]

61. Hispanic support is already solid due to Trump, negating the need for Castro/Perez

[L. Coyote]

16. Practically unknown and little experience ...

Not very likely.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

51. Precisely! It's gotta be Bernie... itsa no brainer!

[L. Coyote]

54. I think Clinton wants to win the election, not throw it.

Much as we like Bernie, why McGovern a good thing?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

59. Bernie as VP would tip the election heavily in Hillary's direction... it's not even arguable.

[BlueCaliDem]

29. My choice, too!

Great bio and did great things for San Antonio as Mayor, too!

And let's be honest, aside from Hillary Clinton, NO candidate, VP or otherwise, will enter the executive branch with experience about being VP or President. These require on the job training.

[DCBob]

2. My take..

-- Hard to imagine it would be Warren. An all-women ticket might be a bit too much to ask of the American voters.
-- Kaine's decent but he's like white toast.. no excitement there.
-- Julian Castro is a potential rock star. He could ignite the party and generate tons of enthusiasm. He's our man!

And they look so good together!

[yurbud]

6. What do you like about him besides his age and ethnicity?

[DCBob]

9. He's got a great bio..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Castro

http://www.mayorcastro.com/accomplishments

He has been groomed for this opportunity. Keynote speaker at the 2012 convention. Selected by President Obama to lead HUD. He could lock down Florida and possibly win Texas and Arizona. Lots of potential with this guy. Could be our next Prez following Hillary.

[yurbud]

38. When the first praise for him comes from the Chamber of Commerce...

that shows it would be tone deaf to pick him.

The Chamber of Commerce is already very well taken care of. We need someone to look out for the rest of us.

[underpants]

8. I hope it's not Tim but Kaine locks up Va,

which is a virtual lock anyway, and he has Executive experience as Governor as well as speaking fluent Spanish - he did a year in Honduras (I think) on a mission.

[DCBob]

10. Yeah, Tim would be good choice.. just not the greatest.. imo.

I didnt know he was fluent Spanish.. that's cool.

[geek tragedy]

13. ironically, his Spanish is much better than Castro's nt

[DCBob]

15. I know Castro struggles with it. Funny!

[underpants]

30. First ever US Senate floor speech in Spanish - Immigration

14:23 he translates to English

[DCBob]

32. That's really good. I have not heard this before.

[forest444]

44. The odds-on favorite, I think.

Plus, his Senate seat won't be filled by a Rethug governor - and he wouldn't be that much of a loss to the Senate besides.

[underpants]

46. I would prefer he stays in the Senate

I worked my tail off on his campaign.

Yes he doesn't have to seek re-election until 2018 and Gov. McAuliffe will be I five until Jan 2018.

[forest444]

49. I hear you.

And anyway: why does it have to be a Senator, right?

[geek tragedy]

12. Problem is Castro lacks experience and policy heft.

He would complicate Clinton's attacks on Trump as unqualified.

If he's so talented and such a star he should run for office from Texas and show what he's made of.

[DCBob]

17. I think being Mayor of San Antonio and Secretary of HUD count as experience.

Trump is a zero.

[geek tragedy]

18. San Antonio's mayor is a part-time position, it's a second job.

The city manager has all the real power there. Or at least they did when Castro was mayor.

There's a serious "where's the beef" question with this guy.

[DCBob]

26. I have never heard that before.. do you have any documentation regarding that?

Regardless you seriously think Trump's "experience" measures up to Julian's??

[geek tragedy]

33. No, but I think Sarah Palin's experience does measure up to Castro's, which is a problem.

(obviously intellectually and temperamentally and ideologically she's a million times worse, just talking about paper qualifications)

Remember when McCain tried to attack Obama as unqualified and then named her as his running mate?

The VP shouldn't undermine the core argument against the opponent.

[DCBob]

36. I do get your point.

See my previous post below.

[geek tragedy]

37. I think Castro has a lot going for him, but he really does need some more political seasoning

before he can be ready for the big leagues.

that said, it's Clinton's call, so if she's okay with him he must be solid.

[NewJeffCT]

62. Wasilla has a population of 8,600

San Antonio has a population of 1.4 million, which is double the population of Alaska.

HUD has more employees than Wasilla has citizens.

Castro went to Stanford and got his JD from Harvard. Sarah Palin went to a branch of the University of Idaho with a degree in communications.

[DCBob]

34. I just read up on the San Antonio part-time mayor issue.

So yes, you are clearly correct about that. I had no idea. I still think Castro is an excellent candidate.

[yurbud]

20. Trump kills the whole GOP meme about "career politicians" being inherently bad

Maybe people will realize "career politician" means someone who knows what they are doing.

No one ever says "I don't want a "career doctor" treating my cancer," or a career mechanic looking at my car or a career contractor building my house.

Just get me someone who listens to talk radio hosts talk about medicine, cars, or housebuilding, then bloviates about what he heard in a bar to take care of me.

[yurbud]

3. Corey Booker would be poison to teachers. He's a staunch advocate of public school privatization

[Android3.14]

4. The choice is obvious to the majority of Democratic leaning voters

A nickel says they screw this up.

[BlueCaliDem]

31. Please don't jinx it!

[fasttense]

7. What no Joe Lieberman?

Just kidding (is he even still alive?)...how about Rahm Emanuel (he's still alive) or "Jamie" Dimon or Lloyd Blankfein (they have lots of money).

- for those how do NOT have a funny bone.

[bigworld]

48. Lieberman (D) died in 2006.

[geek tragedy]

11. Warren is easily a better choice than Kaine and especially Castro.

Castro's elected experience consists of being the part-time mayor of San Antonio.

[TryLogic]

19. Regarding Warren, the Pres cannot fire the VP for speaking out, right?

I think Elizabeth is more valuable in the Senate... more valuable to progressives and the nation, and Massachusetts.

[geek tragedy]

21. VP has a much bigger podium and makes news every time he/she speaks.

Biden's comments about marriage equality being a good example.

[JudyM]

24. VP can also be shut up by POTUS and have her sphere of influence severely restricted.

Even if they were to come to an agreement on what Warren's sphere of action would be, Clinton could always change it at the drop of a hat.

I suspect Warren has her eye on the White House for future years after witnessing from a safe distance what Bernie has been able to accomplish. She knows she'd have the votes in the future and getting in line as VP would give her a better portfolio of executive experience. It's a win-win for Clinton because she can completely control Warren if she's VP, as well as wrangling in far more of Bernie's supporters.

[geek tragedy]

35. White House can ask the VP to be quiet, but they can't fire the VP.

And Biden is proof they can't shut the VP up.

[JudyM]

39. Severely limiting responsibilities is also shutting up, as in, no authority to opine.

Including being assigned to some vanilla responsibilities that require attention.

[geek tragedy]

41. That doesn't stop them from giving an interview and saying stuff. nt

[L. Coyote]

14. The real question is, "Who should be #46?"

45 needs to pick the best person to be President in 2024. So, born after 1960.

[TryLogic]

22. VP is not much of a stepping stone.

[JudyM]

25. Public exposure & international affairs/diplomacy experience.

[yurbud]

27. If the Bernie campaign should have taught Hillary anything...

it's that swing voters and even some conservatives respect politicians who actually stand by their beliefs over the decades even when their beliefs offend the very wealthy.

When the state someone is from and their gender and/or ethnicity is the most notable thing about them, they do not fit that profile.

[BeyondGeography]

28. Warren, because let's kill Reagan once and for all

Last edited Tue Jun 21, 2016, 02:14 PM - Edit history (1)

The Republicans are basically asking us to crush them. I say, for the good of the country, we take them up on it.

[IrishEyes]

40. I think that Tim Kaine would be a good choice.

I looked over the list of potential vice president candidates on wikipedia. There are many good choices. Whoever he or she may be, I will enjoy watching them destroy what ever psycho Trump picks as his vice president when they debate each other.

[BlueStater]

43. Castro is the picture definition of an empty suit.

Never been a governor or served in Congress. Just a figurehead position as mayor of SA and HUD Secretary. It makes me sick that he's even being considered.

[squirecam]

45. Joaquín Castro

That's why I like him better.

In the house since 2013.

[bigworld]

47. Absolutely -- he's the one pick that would make me reconsider a vote for HRC

She needs to pick the best qualified person. Period. And he is most definitely not ready to be president at this point in his life.

I just don't understand his appeal.

[stuffmatters]

50. Al Franken. Warren needs to stay in the Senate. Franken's quick intelligence/ wit

and watchability as VP would help Clinton and the Dem Party enormously. Minn has a Dem Gov so no fear of replacing him with a Rep.

Kaine is determined to keep pot a crime among other retro positions (he's a corporatist, voted for fast track so pro TPP too) He brings zero to Clinton, in fact doubles down on her attackables. He might be "likeable" on the Hill, but so what? Means nothing in this age of obstruction.

Castro is just too young and inexperienced. Brings no support to the campaign or presidency that Clinton doesn't already have.

I agree with Charles Pierce that Warren can be much more powerful as committee chair when Dems retake the Senate. Franken's
increased visibility as VP, that would be an increased benefit to our Party & Clinton's presidency.

[DonCoquixote]

52. donmt forghet Xavier Becerra

Nice thick resume, and he does not leave us short a Senator.

[Firebrand Gary]

53. I'm disappointed not to see Xavier Becerra on that list.

[Metric System]

55. I don't think it's a complete list. At least I hope no. I agree that Becerra would be a great pick.

[bigworld]

57. awesome guy.

[Metric System]

56. Warren or Becerra.

[Firebrand Gary]

58. +1000

In my mind, those are the two choices. The best of the best!

[AntiBank]

60. Tim Kaine is a poor choice, he voted with the Rethugs on fast track

total 3rd way DLCer type, pro TPP. Will alienate the progressive base.

[Blandocyte]

63. Bill Clinton for Veep!