kamala's vp pick: the "weird" & "mean" strategy shakes up 2024 race

who will join harris as vice president at the democratic convention in august?

tl;dr: kamala harris needs a vp for the august 19-22 democratic national convention. we're breaking down top veep contenders, including pete buttigieg, tim walz, and andy beshear. plus, why calling republicans "weird" and “mean” might be the winning 2024 strategy.

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Photo by René DeAnda on Unsplash

alright mi gente,

grab your cafecito and let's dive into the political telenovela that is kamala harris' search for a 2024 running mate. with the democratic national convention in chicago just weeks away, the veepstakes are heating up faster than my abuela's kitchen on pasteles day.

picking the veep

so how does a presidential nominee pick a vp? well, it's not like swiping right on tinder, that's for sure. there's a whole team of lawyers, advisors, and political nerds who dive deep into each potential candidate's background. they're looking for skeletons in closets, controversial tweets from 2009, and any other potential scandals. it's like the most intense background check ever, makes the tsa look chill in comparison. (and even then, they can still miss shit!)

historically, this process has turned up some interesting tidbits:

• in 1988, democratic vp candidate lloyd bentsen's team found out that vice-president dan quayle had used family connections to get into the national guard during vietnam? didn't stop him from being picked, but it sure made for some spicy debate moments.

• or how about in 2008, when john mccain's team apparently only spent a few days vetting sarah palin? that's like cramming for your finals the night before - risky business, folks.

for the candidate, picking a vp is like trying to find the perfect dance partner for the political salsa that is a presidential campaign. you want someone who complements your moves, doesn't step on your toes, and can keep up with the rhythm of a grueling campaign. and probably someone that can be a good attack dog so that you can focus on the big ticket items.

kamala's probably losing sleep over this decision. does she go for someone who shores up her weaknesses? someone who brings in a key state or demographic? or maybe just someone she vibes with who won't make her want to pull her hair out after months on the campaign trail? it's a decision that could make or break her campaign. no pressure, right? just potentially the future of the country hanging in the balance.

so, mis amiguis, as we dive into the potential picks, remember: this isn't just about 2024. it's about shaping the future of the democratic party.

so sit back, refill that cafecito, and let's dish on kamala's potential partners for this political dance.

the shortlist

let's break down the top 2024 contenders:

The Top Dem Veep Contenders - 2024 | From Left to Right, Top Row: Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Mark Kelly, Gov. Roy Cooper; Bottom Row: Sec. Pete Buttigieg, Gov. Tim Walz, and Gov. Andy Beshear. Source: Wikipedia.

1. josh shapiro (pennsylvania governor): young, charismatic, but his israel-palestine stance is controversial.

2. mark kelly (arizona senator): astronaut-turned-politician with a cool backstory, but wavered on labor rights.

3. roy cooper (north carolina governor): southern democrat who's won in a red state, but limited by the gop legislature and lt. gov.

4. pete buttigieg (transportation secretary): my personal favorite (more on that later).

5. tim walz (minnesota governor): dark horse candidate making waves.

6. andy beshear (kentucky governor): rising star turning heads in the democratic party from the south.