Biden Hopes To Announce VP Pick By August 1st

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TOPLINE

Former Vice President Joe Biden said at a fundraiser on Wednesday that he has interviewed all the prospects on his vice presidential shortlist and hopes to announce his pick by August first, according to a pool report from Politico’s Adam Wren.

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Democratic presidential hopefuls (L-R) Former Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Senator ... [+] Elizabeth Warren and California Senator Kamala Harris arrive on stage for the third Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season hosted by ABC News in partnership with Univision at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas on September 12, 2019. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images

KEY FACTS

“We’re in the process of deciding the basic cut, about whether or not they really want it. Are they comfortable? They’ve asked a lot of questions,” Biden said of the vetting process.

Biden said he is looking for a nominee who is “simpatico with me, both in terms of personality as well as substance.”

But he stressed that he doesn’t want a gladhander, stating that whoever he picks must be “willing to tell me the truth” and be “completely candid with me.”

Finally, Biden stressed that he wants a running mate who complements him and has “strengths and capacities” he doesn’t possess.

Biden, 77, has previously said he wants his vice president to have the necessary experience to take over as president on a moment’s notice.

Key background

Biden has said he is committed to picking a woman, and a number are confirmed as being under consideration. Those include Biden’s former 2020 rival Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Other top prospects who have been rumored to be on the shortlist are 2020 rivals Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), as well as former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams.