Joe Biden is set to announce his vice presidential pick this week. Black leaders warn he “will lose” the election if his VP pick isn’t a Black woman.
Biden’s camp say he will announce his running mate this week — after missing previous deadlines set by the Democratic nominee.
There have only been three women on a presidential election ticket in history: Geraldine Ferraro, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton.
Biden’s VP pick is groundbreaking because she will likely be president of the United States at some point if Biden wins the election. He has said his VP choice must be prepared to step in as president “on day one.”
Black leaders understand the historical significance of Biden’s choice for running mate. In a letter they warned Biden “will lose” the election if he doesn’t choose a Black woman.
More than 100 Black male leaders, athletes, and rappers, including Sean Combs and Lenard McKelvey, aka Charlamagne Tha god, signed the letter ordering Biden to pick a Black woman as his VP.
“Failing to select a Black woman … means YOU WILL lose the election … Black women are defining the future of politics so it’s time you let one define the future of your campaign,” they wrote.
There are four Black women on Biden’s short list for Vice President: Florida Rep. Val Demings (pictured), California Rep. Karen Bass, former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice, and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is considered a long shot.
The others on the list include Mass. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who is white, California Sen. Kamala Harris of California, who is mixed, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is white.
Political analysts believe Biden has narrowed his choice to Rice or Whitmer (pictured). Whitmer reportedly chartered a private plane and flew to Delaware under the cover of darkness for a secret late night meeting with Biden on Sunday.
Flight records show a chartered plane left Lansing’s Capital Region International Airport for Delaware Coastal Airport at 5:33 p.m. and returned at 11:16 p.m. on Sunday.
The governor’s office declined to confirm or deny the secret meeting.
NEW: More than 100 Black male leaders sign letter demanding Joe Biden pick Black woman as VP. “Failing to select a Black woman … means YOU WILL lose the election … Black women are defining the future of politics so it's time you let one define the future of your campaign.” pic.twitter.com/HOJs0d8q8h
— Kat Stafford (@kat__stafford) August 10, 2020
