Poised To Pick His Running Mate, Joe Biden Looks To California

LOS ANGELES, CA — In the Nov. 3 presidential race, the main attraction has taken a backseat lately to the pitched battle to become former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate. In an unexpected twist, it’s largely become a battle between two California natives, either of whom would make history as the first black woman on a major party presidential ticket.

Los Angeles Congresswoman Karen Bass seemingly came out of nowhere over the last month to be a favorite in the Biden camp vying with Sen. Kamala Harris, who has long been considered the frontrunner for the job.

According to several reports, the two have the edge along with Susan Rice, former United States ambassador to the United Nations. Biden had said he would choose his running mate in the first week of August, but the pick could be delayed following sustained lobbying by supporters for the frontrunners.

His decision carries unusual weight because Biden would be 82 at the end of a four-year term. If he chooses not to run for reelection, his vice president would be well positioned to run in 2024. Biden is far ahead in the polls — an Economist/YouGov nationwide poll released Wednesday has Biden ahead by 9 points while numerous polls show him leading in most swing states. Biden’s lead in the polls seemingly gives him the luxury of choosing a running mate for compatibility rather than the need to shore up his weakness with the electorate.

“There’s going to be an awful lot to do starting on Day 1, so I think it’s important to have somebody who can be focused on that task and not running for president as soon as we finish the inauguration,” Rep. Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, a Biden campaign chair, told the New York Times.

The vetting process was shaken up Tuesday when Harris' name showed up on a notepad the former vice president was holding during a news conference, leading to speculation that he had decided to pick California's junior senator. As is customary in such cases, a flurry of news reports came out containing negative quotes about Harris.

A Politico report cited Biden campaign insiders emphasizing the bad blood between the two campaigns after last summer’s Democratic debate in which Harris accused Biden of siding with segregationists in opposing the 1970s federal busing program to integrate schools.

Former Sen. Chris Dodd, of Joe Biden’s vice presidential search committee, has been critical of Harris’ debate attack as a gimmick while other detractors say she is too ambitious to be the kind of helpmate Biden is looking for, reported Politico.

However, underneath Harris’ name on Biden’s notepad was written, “Do not hold grudges,” which many interpreted as a sign that Biden has put the attack behind him.

“There may be some drawbacks from what transpired in the debates, but she makes a strong addition to the ticket,” Doug Herman, a Democratic strategist in Los Angeles told Politico. “The flip of this is that historically it’s the dark-horse candidates who have ended up getting picked, and folks don’t see it coming because they are focused on the odds-on favorite.”

Harris spent the weekend knocking back criticism of her ambition.

“There will be a resistance to your ambition,” Harris said during Black Girls Lead 2020, a virtual conference for young Black women, according to the New York Times. “There will be people who say to you, ‘You are out of your lane,’ because they are burdened by only having the capacity to see what has always been instead of what can be. But don’t you let that burden you...I want you to be ambitious.”

Many are holding up Bass as a sort of foil to the ambition that’s defined Harris’ career.
Bass doesn’t have the same national profile that Harris has, but she is well known and well liked by her colleagues in California, where she previously served as speaker of the California Assembly. She’s seen as someone unlikely to spend her tenure as vice president campaigning for her boss’ job.

Bass, 66, has been active in politics and community organizing since she was a teenager, volunteering for Robert Kennedy's doomed 1968 presidential campaign at age 14.

Among Bass' priorities in Congress have been criminal justice reform, child welfare and working to combat famine in Africa.

More coverage: LA Rep. Karen Bass Emerges As Biden's Potential Running Mate

She was asked about her possible selection for the VP spot on CNN last week, but declined to directly address it.

"I want to do whatever the vice president needs ... if he wants me to go out and safely walk precincts, I would be happy to do that," Bass told the network. "I am so concerned about where our country is at at this point in time ... and I'm willing to serve my country in whatever way I am called upon."

Bass chairs the Congressional Black Caucus. She has served in Congress since 2011, first in the 33rd Congressional District and then the 37th Congressional District after a 2012 redistricting. The district stretches from Westwood to South Los Angeles.

Within a day of the New York Times declaring Bass a frontrunner, she came under the harsh glare of the spotlight with critics unearthing past comments and stances that could drag her down.
Critics attacked her for a 2010 speech she gave at the grand opening of the Scientology building at 4810 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles.

The congresswoman took to Twitter on Saturday to address the issue herself.

"Just so you all know, I proudly worship at First New Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in South LA," Bass wrote. "Ten years ago, I attended a new building opening in my district and spoke to what I think all of us believe in -- respect for one another's views, to treat all people with respect, and to fight against oppression wherever we find it. I found an area of agreement in their beliefs -- where all people, of whatever race, color, or creed are created with equal rights, which is what my remarks were about.

"Since then, published first-hand accounts in books, interviews and documents have exposed the group. Everyone is now aware of the allegations against Scientology. Back in 2010, I attended the event knowing I was going to address a group of people with beliefs very different than my own, and spoke briefly about things I think most of us agree with, and on those things -- respect for different views, equality, and fighting oppression -- my views have not changed."

She also came under fire for her work in Cuba in the 70s volunteering with a home-building program. Bass this week found herself backtracking on comments she made praising Fidel Castro after his death in 2016. She had called it a great loss to the people of Cuba. Castro remains deeply unpopular with Florida’s Cuban community, making her history a potential liability in the swing state.

“If I had to make that statement over again, I wouldn’t use those words,” she told The Atlantic last week.

If nothing else, the barrage of opposition research would seem to confirm Bass’ status as a top contender.

Speculation by political analysts has focused on a handful of names, including Bass, Harris, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

City News Service contributed to this report.