Sunday April 24, 2016
By Rob Crilly
Hillary Clinton is considering selecting another woman as her vice presidential running mate, according to campaign officials.Following her convincing win over her Democratic rival Bernie Sanders in New York last week, she has already begun turning her attention to November's general election.
This offers the intriguing possibility of not just the first female party nominee but the prospect of an all-woman ticket.This week, John Podesta, her campaign chairman, told the Boston Globe that women would certainly be on the list of possible vice-presidential candidates: “We’ll start with a broad list and then begin to narrow it. But there is no question that there will be women on that list,” he said.
Such a bold move would stand in contrast to her failed run in 2008 when she shied from emphasising her historic status as potentially the first female nominee for America's highest office.
One name much discussed in political circles is Elizabeth Warren, the senator for Massachusetts and former Harvard professor, who disappointed many on the liberal wing of the party by opting not to enter the nomination race herself.
She would help Mrs Clinton win over progressive Democratic voters, including some who have backed Mr Sanders, the socialist senator from Vermont who has made a surprisingly strong challenge.
She also enjoys national name recognition and a reputation as a prolific fundraiser.
On the other hand, she has so far refused to endorse the former secretary of state and clashed with Mrs Clinton over her Wall Street ties.
Chris Kofinis, a Democratic strategist, said Mrs Clinton did not need to appease the liberal wing of her party if she secured the nomination.
“As much as people have made out this race between Clinton and Sanders to be an ideological death match, Donald Trump will do more to bring the Democratic Party together than anyone has ever done,” he said.
Campaign sources say Mrs Clinton has offered only general criteria to the team charged with vetting potential running mates.
She is said to be keen to find a partner with robust qualifications for the job in order to highlight Mr Trump's lack of political experience. And she has told her team she is less interested in ideological compatibility than finding a candidate who can make a strong case that Mrs Clinton would make the best president.
Another possibility is Amy Klobuchar, a senator from Minnesota.
The final decision is expected to be announced after the Republicans make their nomination.
The male contenders include Tom Perez, who has been labour secretary since 2013, and Tim Kaine, a senator for Virginia.
There is also an argument for selecting a black or Hispanic running mate, shoring up Mrs Clinton’s support among the crucial voting blocs she needs to win the White House.
Cory Booker, a black senator from New Jersey, is among the possible contenders.
And Hispanic advocacy groups frequently raise the name of Julian Castro, the housing and urban development secretary who is considered a rising star in the party.
Analysts say he offers the sort of inspirational character that would help compensate for Mrs Clinton's perceived failings – her status as a dynasty candidate and high unfavourability ratings.
Publicly, Mrs Clinton's campaign says the candidate remains focused on the nomination process.
But with a commanding lead in the delegate count, she is all but assured of victory.
The Republican race remains less certain, although Mr Trump's huge margin of victory in New York on Tuesday – with more than 60 per cent of the vote – has propelled him towards the nomination.
This week brings primaries in five states where he is expected to do well.
The latest Ipsos-Reuters national opinion poll shows a surge in support for the bombastic property mogul at the expense of his main rival Ted Cruz, the conservative senator from Texas.
It shows him gaining five percentage points taking him to a shade under 50 per cent support among Republicans who were polled.