Hillary Clinton and her team have begun looking for a vice presidential candidate for the bottom of her ticket, in the all but assured event that she wins the Democratic presidential nomination.
The vetting will be run by James Hamilton, a lawyer and longtime aide to both Clintons. John Podesta, the chairman of Clinton’s campaign, will lead the overall search.
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, Virginia Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Labor Secretary Tom Perez are on the potential VP list.
Clinton is also reportedly considering Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. At 73, Nelson is the only candidate older than Clinton on the list. Nelson could help Clinton in the key swing state of Florida and boost the experience on ticket.
Nelson, like Brown, hails from a state with a Republican govenor. The selection of such a senator may be unlikely because it would reduce Democrats’ chances of winning back control of the Senate. Senate vacancies are filled by the governor in both Florida and Ohio.
Clinton is open to the possibility of a female vice president, including Klobuchar or Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a progressive favorite who has declined to endorse Clinton this primary season.
The report does not mention Sen. Bernie Sanders as a possibility, the New York Times said Saturday.
“Clinton does not feel pressure to enthrall the supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, since she thinks most of them would ultimately vote for her, an assertion backed up by polling,” the report says.
