Stacy Abrams for VP?

[CTyankee]

My husband really wants her to be Biden's VP candidate. He feels she can garner lots of votes and is a wonderful addition to the ticket.

I like her a lot.

What do you think?

[greymattermom]

1. Go see her in person, then decide.

She's very good at working on voting rights issues, and I think she should continue that.

[Dave in VA]

2. Think it could work.

Her team needs to start promoting her governing experience if they want her to be considered, though.

IIRC, she and Biden met right before he announced his candidacy.

[nsd]

3. Not enough experience.

Especially given his age, Biden needs someone seen as capable of taking over on day one.

Harris, Klobuchar, and Warren fit the bill.

[standingtall]

7. Experience is not as important as winning the election

"Harris, Klobuchar, and Warren fit the bill." All of those are great, but none of those are from swing States except maybe Minnesota barely and none of them are from a swing state with a huge African American population like Georgia.

[squirecam]

30. Prove that she can win GA first

Because with a rethug governor I doubt it.

I KNOW that Amy will help Biden get the midwest. That’s what we need to win against Trump.

Show me that Abrams gets us GA or FL, which always disappoints us.

Also, I like her, but with Bidens age we do need someone ready on day one. She needs more experience.

If it absolutely positively 100% must be an AA woman, then take Harris. But I’d much rather have Harris as AG and let her loose on former Trump officials.

[Dem4Life1102]

48. I believe she did win Georgia.

[squirecam]

49. My point exactly.

Rethug governor will prevent it again.

We need to win the midwest. We can get Georgia and southern states after we win state races in them that control election purges.

[Dem4Life1102]

51. Then again

Abrams might not flip those states but may cause the GOP to have to spend more money in them. And she may help increase turnout in them which will help down ballot races in purple districts.

[squirecam]

58. There are senate races in the south

So they will have to spend there. The difference is they can cheat because they control the elections there.

The Midwest has Democratic governors, except Ohio. That’s where we have a fair shot.

Amy will bring those moderate swing voters in.

[Dem4Life1102]

60. No Biden can do that.

He won't need a VP pick for that.

[Dem4Life1102]

47. Experience doesn't matter in electoral politics.

If it did, Clinton would be president.

[MichMan]

98. So would McCain as well

[Dem4Life1102]

99. Exactly!

[standingtall]

4. Yes she need to be the first one

offered the VP.

[underpants]

5. Definitely yes. It's all about turnout and she'd bring it

and she brings better turf than Kamala. Either one would be a great choice.

[CTyankee]

12. and Kamala might have ruined any chance she had with her gratuitous "that little girl was me"

remark. I really thought that was meanspiirited and hurtful. I didn't like it one bit when I heard it i the debate and I like it less now.

[sunnybrook]

28. Thats what I said in a post earlier today

And someone attacked me for posting something not good enough for DU and being divisive. Whatever, that was my take on that. And Kamala was my first choice candidate at the time!

[underpants]

43. Nah. Joe and she would look they were mature enough to get over it

While Clustertrump would take to twitter and prove he isn’t.

[Dem4Life1102]

50. True

Plus Harris missed her moment by not endorsing Biden before California. Being Biden's VP she'll be cast as a hypocritical opportunist.

[tblue37]

6. I keep harping on her as VP. She would be great. If not her, then Harris. nt

[Big Blue Marble]

8. Kamala Harris is more likely.

Abrams has no national name recognition outside of the party base. And she has
no national experience. I do not believe she is ready to be president, the most
important factor.

[uponit7771]

13. +1, Abrams is to POC as Palin was too right-wing voters just way smarter and more caring...

.... I just don't know about Abrams political chops

[Dem4Life1102]

54. Experience doesn't matter in electoral politics.

And Harris comes from a solid blue state so she brings no geographic advantage.

[Big Blue Marble]

100. It matters when you are picking a possible future president.

When you have a the election of someone who will be the oldest person
ever inaugurated, it really matters. Remember Palin? It mattered.
Abrams have even less experience. She has never even held state-wide office.
Harris's appeal will reach far outside her state all the way to Georgia.

[Dem4Life1102]

104. Maybe

but Harris’ record as a prosecutor might be a drag with progressives and she didn’t poll well with African-American voters.

[Big Blue Marble]

136. Good points.

If not Harris, then we need someone with a national presence and
executive experience.

[Dem4Life1102]

137. Experience doesn't matter in electoral politics.

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. No, not yet.

There are many others that are far more qualified to take over on a moments notice.

[PAMod]

10. She should get some executive experience first.

Otherwise, she would be great.

[Cattledog]

22. She was in the GA state House for 11 years and was Dem leader for 6 years

[scrabblequeen40]

11. Abrams is a great choice

And a great way to bolster the base of African American voters who carried Biden to victory on Super Tuesday.

Kamala Harris would be great too! But Stacy's from the south, and we need the south.

We need someone to poke at Trump/Pence in a way people can relate, and Stacy can deliver it with sass, grit and eye-opening insight.

She's a fighter, in the way we like our political leaders to be, for no-nonsense policies are just "do the right thing" in common parlance, because it's what basic decency demands us to do.

If we don't get a person of color at the bottom of the ticket, I'm all for Mayor Pete -- white guy who is a stark contrast to Pence.

They are from the same state, but are a world apart.

[CTyankee]

14. Obama didn't have governing experience when he was chosen either...

just sayin'

[MichMan]

23. You don't see a distinction between being a US Senator vs Georgia Statehouse representative?

[CTyankee]

24. Yes, but I also think she's talented enough to play in the big leagues, too...

I'd sure like to hear more about her...

[Celerity]

45. Obama was a US Senator from January 3, 2005 to November 16, 2008, before that he

was in the the IL State legislature as a Senator (and for a shorter time than Abrams was and he was not a House Leader nor Senate leader at state level, like Stacey was, when she was the Dem leader in the GS House for 6 years)

[squirecam]

31. Obama was a senator and won a statewide race.

I’m not sure Abrams wins us GA with a rethug governor.

I’d have much preferred she run for Senate in GA.

[Kahuna7]

78. But Joe did. He made all the difference. Palin sank McCain because of her lack of..nt

[OnDoutside]

128. Exactly. IF Palin had a functioning brain, it may have made a big difference. Abrams would enhance

a Biden ticket.

[MineralMan]

15. I don't think so.

While she is known to maybe a majority of DUers, and people in her own state, she is not well known in the general population. That is a serious drawback as a VP nominee. Remember Tim Kaine? Most people don't remember that he was Hillary's VP nominee. He was a poor choice for her to have made.

[Dem4Life1102]

71. Silly argument

Palin was unknown before she was picked by McCain. Kaine may have been a poor choice but for different reasons. If Abrams is picked for VP, being the first African-American woman on a national ticket will get her plenty of press coverage and she'll be well known in a very short period.

[MineralMan]

73. It is just an argument. You think it's silly. I don't.

Why should I listen to you?

[Dem4Life1102]

96. Of course you think it's not silly

but it is. No one knew who Bill Clinton or Obama were a year before they were elected President.

[MineralMan]

103. That's not true, you know. Not at all. I knew who Obama was, four years before

he ran for office. He gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention. I heard it, and commented that he was someone who was going somewhere fast.

Bill Clinton? I knew about him before he ran for President, too. Why? Because politics interests me. I know about Stacy Abrams, too. She lost an election a few years back. She came close, but she lost.

Obama got elected to the Senate. Bill Clinton was a Governor. Even mild-mannered Jimmy Carter had already been elected before. I knew about him, too, years before he ran for President.

Choosing a VP candidate is about choosing a proven winner who can bring in votes from some region or demographic group. People who have not won their last election need not apply. Seriously.

So, go stand in front of your local supermarket and ask 100 people if they know who Stacy Abrams is. If 2 or 3 do, you should be surprised. But, ask about Amy Klobuchar. You'll find that 20 of them know of her. That, my friend, is the difference. National politics is about people with a national reputation of winning. If you recently lost the last election you ran in, you don't qualify to be the VP candidate, no matter who you are.

[Dem4Life1102]

110. Of course you did

Your a political junkie or you wouldn’t be here. But most didn’t.

And you’re right about the criteria for choosing a VP candidate. But many would say Abrams did win that election in a red state.

[MineralMan]

117. Is she living in the Governor's mansion?

If not, she didn't win. Yes, everyone in Georgia knows who she is. But, she lost, so most people not in Georgia cannot put a face to her name. They may never have seen her face, actually. National politics, at the presidential level, require that the people running be people who have a claim to national attention.

Most people could not find Georgia on a map. Most people have never been in Georgia. Most people never even think about Georgia.

That's not a good combination when someone who lost an election for Governor of Georgia is being talked about as a potential VP candidate. Nope. Now, had she won, it would be a completely different story, but she didn't.

[Dem4Life1102]

118. She made the race in a red state very competitive

And many believe that the GOP cheated.

BTW Lincoln never won an election before being elected President. So your argument fails on a historical basis.

[MineralMan]

120. Lincoln's time was a long long time ago.

The population of the entire United States was less than the current population of New York. Communication was by letters that took days or even weeks to get to the addressee.

Things aren't like that today.

She lost that election and is unknown to most people. Today, that matters.

[Dem4Life1102]

122. And how many elections did Trump win?

And she may be unknown to most now but will get a ton of press coverage being the first African-American women on a major party ticket.

[MichMan]

127. Except everyone had already heard of Donald Trump

[Dem4Life1102]

132. Still never won an election

[MelissaB]

16. No. There are others more qualified.

[bucolic_frolic]

17. No national experience

State House Leader. Not going to fly.

[Celerity]

44. the old rules no longer apply, post-Trump nt

[bucolic_frolic]

57. Says who? How you gonna sell that to the public? You know, people who vote?

[Celerity]

59. I don't have to sell anything, the old paradigm has been rent asunder already nt

[bucolic_frolic]

67. Cliches don't run campaigns

Nor do false hopes. Experience matters. Look at the mess Trump has made, no experience in government yet an accomplished businessman and TV star.

[Celerity]

75. I dismiss both your cliche claims and your overall position

cheers

[bucolic_frolic]

79. Do as you wish

Just try to accept there are real criteria that must be fulfilled for positions of expertise. You want a dentist, you don't hire a mailman.

[Celerity]

125. non sequitur

hard science that demands technical training versus the social science of governance

thousands of great leaders in human history would have made shitty dentists, lolol

paging Dr. Kublai Khan

[bucolic_frolic]

129. Please

focus on someone else. You may think it funny. I do not. I find it irritating. But I suppose that is the point for whatever you get out of it.

[Celerity]

139. I had no idea having a simple colloquy meant I was focusing on you

sorry

have a good night

[Mosby]

63. The current president was a host of a reality show on tv.

There are not qualifications for POTUS anymore.

[bucolic_frolic]

69. Then why aren't you running?

Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic. Anyone here could run and win based on your criteria. You are trying to use universal generalizations to prove a specific point, and it's illogical and won't fly. A poor choice for VP will reelect Trump.

[Mosby]

62. +1

[EmeraldCoaster]

18. I love her.

Unbeatable Ticket!

[Cattledog]

19. Stacey came within 50,000 votes for Gov down here

even with the GA voter suppression machine working overtime. She's got the chops.

[BusyBeingBest]

20. Not enough experience in national politics.

Not vetted enough on a large scale either. I would rather see Amy, or Harris. Let's face it, Joe's not young. Need someone who can step up right away.

[Jeebo]

21. She's the one I've been rooting for all along.

She's smart, articulate, personable, passionate, obviously sincere, and she is an exciting VP candidate who would help energize the Democratic base. She comes from a state the Democrats might have a chance to win, too. And I would LOVE to see her in televised debates against Pence. (Although I suspect there won't be any debates; I will be surprised if the orange raccoon doesn't try to wriggle and squirm out of that.)

-- Ron

[lynintenn]

25. Andrew Gillum FLorida

[CTyankee]

27. I like him a lot but it's time for a woman, IMO...

[Grendam]

26. i hope not...

I really hope this isn't the pick. First off, I live in a fairly conservative-leaning area, and I cannot really convey the level of vitriol expressed towards her whenever her name is brought up. They HATE her. It's on the level of Hilary or Omar/Tlaib. Even many of the moderates, including democrats, I know don't care for her very much.

When she bemoans being judged by her "phenotype" and continually insists she won her election, she's doing more to feed into the caricature of what the right loves to demonize. I think much of it is unfair, but I'm sympathetic to many of the reasons I've heard that people find her unappealing. Many think she is self-important and lacks the needed experience.

I should also add that Fox News has already spent significant time over the last two years foreshadowing her as a future Pelosi-like bogeyman. Perhaps that's a compliment, but she is very polarizing nonetheless.

I'm ambivalent about her myself, but I would prefer Joe (or Bernie) choose someone who can bring the same pluses without all the baggage. This pick is probably the most consequential VP pick ever considering Joe's age and the uncertainty he will run for a second term. She would essentially be his anointed successor, and the media will probably spend as much time focusing on her during the term as they do Biden.

I really worry, from what I've seen, she'll severely bristle under the constant scrutiny, the negative assault from the right, and complain constantly about how unfair everything is and really alienate large groups of people with her attitude/responses. In four years or eight, I think she could end up in a Hilary-like position of securing the next nomination while not being particularly liked/popular. Then, of course, get obliterated in the GE.

I hope we can avoid all of this by nominating someone else.

[CTyankee]

33. forget the conservate leaners. We wouldn't get them anyway. Of course they don't like her. She's

black, assertive and a woman and they hate that.

We need to mobilize our base and that is largely black and females white or black. And she's Southern.

It's a bold choice but a good one IMO. My husband is a PoliSci grad and a long time government employee in health care management issues. I think his intuition and judgment are spot on.

[Grendam]

42. My point is...

I know a lot of democrats who really don't like her either. The further left you lean, the more appealing she seems to be. I've seen her on television several times, and I've liked her in many of those appearances. I've also seen her a few times where she came off as kind of whiney and arrogant, really giving me pause.

I can see her responding to critics very confrontationally, aggrieved and openly complaining about misogyny/racism (even when the criticism is legitimate). It might be true most of the time and the left will love it, but I can see it going over with the broader public like a lead balloon.

[jimfields33]

37. She also said she'd be president by 2028

Who says stuff like that? Quite frankly had warren in 2016 said she’d be president in 2020. I’d given her credible applause.

[chillfactor]

29. my thoughts exactly!!!!! n/t

[intheozone]

32. No, she has no federal experience. Like her, but not as a VP.

[jimfields33]

34. She needs vetted now!!!!

Trump will so we might as well do it before then.

[CTyankee]

39. He prolly hates her. Uppity and black and we can hear it now, can't we?

She'll make him crazy that's for sure

[jimfields33]

41. I'm sure. I don't think he likes many people

Occasionally Ivanka I guess.

[OnDoutside]

131. I suspect the Georgia Republican scum did all that already.

[MoonRiver]

35. She's on my short list. Kamala Harris is #1, but don't know if she's interested.

[Walleye]

36. We need someone who has won a statewide election

[evertonfc]

38. given it was Georgia

Probably more cred than a Democrat that wins in Blue States

[Walleye]

40. True

[uponit7771]

81. +1, Kemp cheated no doubt

[Kahuna7]

46. Nope. She doesn't have enough experience. nt

[Dem4Life1102]

56. Experience doesn't matter in electoral politics.

[Kahuna7]

61. That's your opinion. A lot of us like Biden exactly because of his

vast knowledge and experience.

[Dem4Life1102]

64. Not just my opinion

If it did Clinton would be President. McCain would have beaten Obama. Gore would have beating Bush. Bush would have won against Clinton. History has shown that experience in not a factor when people cast their vote.

[bucolic_frolic]

74. Please note that none of these people lacked national experience at the highest level.

NONE OF THEM.

[Dem4Life1102]

89. Trump had National experience?

[bucolic_frolic]

107. You didn't mention Trump, now you drag him into the argument

He was an internationally known businessman for what it's worth. He wasn't merely a local politician or businessman.

[Dem4Life1102]

115. I mentioned Clinton

who lost to Trump.

[bucolic_frolic]

124. Congratulations

How will you create an argument out of this post?

[Dem4Life1102]

133. Don't need to

[Kahuna7]

77. Maybe we don't want to make the same mistake of letting someone

like trump slip through with zero experience. Many voted for Obama because they were relieved that someone like Biden, who had vast knowledge and experience would be there to help guide him. Think McCain/Palin. For someone who is nearly 80 years old we need someone who would be ready on day one. Not a former state legislature.

[Dem4Life1102]

88. Not how electoral politics works

[Kahuna7]

101. Save it. I've been voting for over 45 yrs and I know how electoral politics work. nt

[Dem4Life1102]

105. That's nice

I assume you’ve been eating for longer. Can you run a restaurant?

[bucolic_frolic]

109. Exactly. Some posts are just argumentative no matter what you say.

Makes one question the source.

[Kahuna7]

111. Tell me about it. After over 15 years on DU, I expect it...and truthfully..

I never experience it elsewhere.

[Dem4Life1102]

114. Yes some are just argumentative

[Dem4Life1102]

90. But not for most voters

Please stop playing checkers and learn chess.

[bucolic_frolic]

66. Experience doesn't matter? For an elite position at the top of government?

Then why aren't the candidates for President all waitresses?

[Dem4Life1102]

68. Then why doesn't the most experienced candidate

always win?

[bucolic_frolic]

72. Because they are all well qualified in a field of candidates

How do you quantify "Most experienced"? Age? years in Government? most money? The quality of the experience matters greatly.

[Dem4Life1102]

94. If experience mattered

Trump wouldn’t be President.

[bucolic_frolic]

106. Logical falacy

Using one outliet instance to universally generalize to all instances.

For whatever reason, enough voters in enough states seemed to approve.

[Dem4Life1102]

112. Yes it is a logical fallacy

to think experience matters.

[bucolic_frolic]

80. +10,000x nt

[Firebrand Gary]

52. I think she's in the cabinet for sure.

Susan Rice for VP

[virgogal]

55. What cabinet position?

[Mosby]

53. I think she would be great. Nt.

[underthematrix]

65. NO. leave black women out of this nonsense.

I WANT JOE BIDEN TO SELECT A WINGMAN who can get the electoral college win we need to get that mutha phucker out the White House. I'm African American and I want a WHITE MAN who's younger than Joe Biden and will allow us to keep the WHITE HOUSE in 2024.

Top on my list is the swaglicious Sen Michael Bennet.

[USALiberal]

70. No, Harris better IMO! Nt

[abakan]

76. Elizabeth Warren for VP

If she will accept it. If not Amy.

[ashredux]

82. Harris...

[proud patriot]

83. I like Warren as VP

will go along way uniting the party IMO

[llmart]

97. +1

I would love to see that ticket.

[proud patriot]

102. me too

[LuvNewcastle]

116. I agree.

[SCantiGOP]

86. Stacy's candidacy is to help DU maintain its distemper

Just when it seems like we might be on the verge of not fighting each other like rabid wolves, we get to start arguing over the VP slot.

(this is tongue in cheek for the satire-deprived among us)

[relayerbob]

87. I've seen her and met her in person

She is an excellent speaker, has a very compelling story, is smarter than 90% of DC hacks and has incredible energy.

She would be a great asset to the ticket.

[Politicub]

91. She has devoted herself to Obama's number one priority, which is protecting the right to vote.

And for that reason alone, I think she would make an amazing VP.

[seta1950]

92. I think it's a great idea

She or kamala Harris would make me very happy 😊

[TygrBright]

93. I think it's up to Stacey. She may not WANT the Veep slot.

She's put her whole heart into fixing the elections in her own state, and she may not want to abandon that and head to DC.

Offering her the FEC Chair, though... she might go for that as it would give her extra leverage to fix the vote in her home state, AND bringing what she's learned and accomplished about that to the national level.

But I'd say it's up to her.

amiably,
Bright

[JTOL]

95. KAMALA

[Runningdawg]

108. Nope. And I will go so far as to wager a woman won't even be considered.

[StevieM]

130. I am sure that a lot of women will be considered.

Stacey Abrams, Kamala Harris, Tammy Duckworth, Catherine Cortez Masto are among the names that come to mind.

[Runningdawg]

134. Sure the names will be thrown around but in RL I would take the bet none will be chosen.

[StevieM]

135. I think Tammy Duckworth is going to get a really close look.

I wouldn't be surprised if Biden picks her.

I can't see him picking a white male. If he doesn't pick a woman then I think he is very likely to choose a person of color. Corey Booker is a possibility. So is Anthony Foxx, the former Secretary of Transportation. I like both of them a lot. Julian Castro might also get some consideration, although he and Biden have had their differences.

[Runningdawg]

140. Out of all those choices IMO it should be Tammy - from your lips to the nominees ears.

[Tarc]

113. Absolutely not

This isn't the time to pick the flavor of the moment, we need someone who has won things above the state level.

[JGug1]

119. Stacy Abrams

NO! Please, let us go with a traditional candidate, this time. Let's get back to normal before we promote a black or a woman. Before you attack me, I supported Hillary in the primary in '16 and happily voted for her and was immensely disappointed when she lost. Of COURSE, I love Obama.
I think that a woman who is going to get to the White House is going to have to do it the way Obama, a black man, did. I think Stacy is wonderful. Let's get Biden the nomination and some one, maybe Beto, who can help deliver a state.

[Karadeniz]

121. Love her to pieces, but I would understand if she felt she can be more useful in Georgia.

[The Mouth]

123. I've been advocating this for months

All due respect to Senator Harris, but Stacy brings the south, and Harris would be better at SOS or AG

[OnDoutside]

126. I've been saying Stacey for VP for months. She has "presence" that is rare in a politician plus, she

is driven, yet personable.

Stacey is also highly accomplished

- BA in Political Science, Economics and Sociology (magnum cum laude)
- Masters in Public Affairs from the LBJ school at UT at Austin
- J.D. Law degree from Yale Law School

Worked as a Tax Attorney, with a focus on tax-exempt organizations, health care, and public finance.

She did an excellent interview with Clare Malone of 538, which gives you an idea of what she is about

[rainy]

138. Yes!!!