Next week, Joe Biden will announce who he has selected as his running mate. During the entire course of a rather strange campaign, there has only been a bumbling Biden to represent his brand. Soon, the second half of the ticket will be revealed, and the addition will have a big impact on the campaign’s trajectory.
The former vice president is fully aware of how a pick can add much to a platform. As President Barack Obama’s right-hand man for eight years, Biden helped to capture the portion of the left-leaning electorate that was perhaps looking for an older politician to join a young, much less experienced but charismatic star. During a primary debate this March, Biden committed to picking a woman as his running mate. Since then, some members of his party have encouraged him to pick a woman of color. Regardless of the final choice, his selection is sure to capture support in ways that he alone simply cannot.
Although Biden is nowhere near a conservative, he appears much less threatening than the 2016 Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton. In fact, the elder statesman gives off an unfocused, out-of-touch vibe. Questions about his mental state are serious enough to make voters on both sides of the aisle concerned about whether he’s fit enough to run the country. They can’t help but think that Biden’s running mate might be called upon to take over one day.
Other than that consideration, a far-left choice who can bring a sense of diversity and perceived stability to the campaign may push away some independents but still ignite the Democratic base. And while black people have historically and overwhelmingly voted for Democrats, selecting a woman of color could help solidify support from a community that is looking for Biden to lead during a time when racial tensions in the country are seemingly at an all-time high. The Democrats may be very pleased with Biden’s final choice. While Biden may not be the progressive darling that many in the party were hoping for, his running mate may fit that bill. However, his selection could also turn into a major advantage for the GOP.
At present, Biden is the alternative that plenty of Trump-weary voters are seeking. But a Biden administration wouldn’t be his alone. His vice presidential choice will most likely fulfill the Left’s requirement for a more progressive party, and that is enough to discourage full support from disaffected Republicans. Trump may exasperate on a daily basis, but his policies are not kind to leftism and the sort of transformation that socialist sympathizers are looking for from the next commander-in-chief. A radical choice on Biden’s part is sure to embolden the Trump team and its enthusiastic supporters.
Trump has an established, winning brand that includes Vice President Mike Pence. Of that duo, Trump is unexpected and unorthodox while Pence maintains a pleasant, unruffled tone. With Biden and his soon-to-be running mate, the opposite will most likely be true. Biden represents the stable, harmless, and old-school approach. His selection may be a fiery, controversial politician (such as his rumored choice, California’s Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris) in an effort to broaden his appeal. No matter his choice, with it will come the realization that up until now, he has been able to play it safe and alone. Any addition is sure to excite some, repel others, and change the campaign that we have known until now for good.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
