Biden delays the VP pick again. Eleven candidates still in the running -- and most don't know what's happening next. "The competition to be named Joe Biden’s running mate has entered the final stretch with huge unknowns about how it will unfold — among even some of the candidates themselves. At least some of the contenders were in the dark on Sunday about their upcoming interviews with Biden: They were told to be prepared for in-person sit-downs while at the same time cautioned that could change due to health and logistical concerns surrounding Covid-19." (POLITICO) • What's happening: No one is quite sure what's next in Joe Biden's VP selection process, including some of the potential VP picks themselves. Biden aides told POLITICO there are 11 women left in the process. He's delayed the choice yet again; it's now set for next week.
• What's at stake: This isn't a good sign for Biden's campaign or the unity of his party -- and it's just two weeks out from the Democratic National Convention right now.
Plus this delay does two things:
First, it lends strength to media reports that Biden isn't happy with any pick. That won't help party morale or enthusiasm, which the Trump campaign has argued is in a major deficit on the left this year.
Second, it deepens the split in the Democratic Party even further (although the media will remain silent -- of course!). Supporters of each candidate are reportedly making their case to the campaign for why Biden should make their pick. The majority will wind up disappointed right before the national convention.
So let's review once again. Just two weeks out from the convention, Biden has...
(1) no VP, just media reports that he's unhappy with his picks
(2) a powerful and openly hostile wing of his party, from its senior leaders on down
(3) continuing fights between Biden and Sanders supporters about the future of the party
... and the mainstream media still hasn't said a word!
• What else to know: We'll know in 16 days by the latest. That's because Biden's VP pick -- whoever she may be! -- will give a speech to the Democratic National Convention on August 19. That's the night before Biden will deliver his acceptance speech.
Is Joe Biden planning to duck the 2020 presidential debates? The left is laying the groundwork. "Joe Lockhart, the former White House press secretary, penned an op-ed last week urging Joe Biden to skip debating President Trump prior to the November election. 'Whatever you do, don’t debate Trump,' he wrote on CNN." (Fox News) • What's happening: A third piece arguing that Joe Biden should skip the presidential debates with President Trump has popped up in as many weeks. Of the three, the most shared (and thus likely to be influential) is linked above; it's a piece from Joe Lockhart, a Clinton-era White House Press Secretary.
• What's at stake: Given the upheaval due to coronavirus, Biden has campaigned by not really campaigning, i.e. not doing public events or media appearances. That gives extra weight to the presidential debates which start in late September -- and which President Trump is widely expected to have the upper hand.
There have now been three major pieces arguing that Biden should duck the debates (though framed less bluntly):
-- a New York Times op-ed from Thomas Friedman that suggested bizarre requirements Biden should make of Trump before a debate
-- the CNN piece mentioned above, which tries to blame President Trump (of course); you can read it in full here
-- a New York Times op-ed from this morning that argues we should do away with the debates altogether
Although these are all guesswork, what strikes us is the frequency and the high-profile outlets that took the pieces making this argument. It could mean nothing ... or it could become conventional wisdom on the left and lead to Biden considering it seriously.
It's to Biden's advantage to duck the debates, which Sen. Cruz wryly called "Basement Strategy 2.0."
• What else to know: In sharp contrast to left, President Trump's campaign has been eager to add more debates to the calendar. That's unlikely to happen, especially given the rising chorus from the left on this issue. But it shows that President Trump's campaign is confident in his future debate performances.
The Trump campaign may be signaling it thinks Rep. Karen Bass is Biden's VP pick. Here's what you should know. "President Trump’s reelection campaign ramped up criticism of Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) on Saturday amid speculation that she could be tapped to be former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate. In a call organized by the campaign and led by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez (R), the two lawmakers tore into Bass’s past comments on and trips to Cuba, broadcasting possible lines of attack the campaign hopes could be effective in the nation’s largest swing state." (The Hill) • What's happening: Over the weekend, the Trump campaign held a media call that highlighted a major liability for Rep. Karen Bass, a potential Biden VP pick: her "past comments on and trips to Cuba."
• What's at stake: First, of course, is the VP speculation. Although this type of campaign effort is normal, highlighting just one of 11 potential picks ahead of an announcement may suggest the Trump campaign thinks it will be Rep. Bass.
Second, there's the substance of Rep. Bass' past comments -- and what they may mean for her VP chances or role in the campaign if selected.
In recent days, Bass has apologized for and tried to explain past praise of Fidel Castro of Cuba. But her comments could remain a major issue for voters in Florida, a pivotal swing state.
That the Trump campaign is pushing this early -- and with high-profile speakers like Sen. Marco Rubio and Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez -- suggests this could be the defining line of attack against her from the right.
• What else to know: Rep. Bass has also publicly addressed comments she made at an opening event of a Church of Scientology in her district. You can review her statement for yourself here.
The Squad turns to Nancy Pelosi as the Speaker gives $14,000 to Rep. Ilhan Omar's campaign. "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) funneled $14,000 to Rep. Ilhan Omar's campaign in late July as the Minnesota Democrat struggled to fend off a well-funded primary challenge." (Washington Free Beacon) • What's happening: Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent $14,000 to Rep. Omar's re-election campaign. Granted, that's a normal political practice. But it's noteworthy as Speaker Pelosi criticized Rep. Omar in 2019 for "using 'deeply offensive' anti-Semitic tropes."
• What's at stake: Members of Congressional leadership -- and others -- use campaign contributions from their own PACs to shore up support from other candidates in their party, particularly those in the midst of challenging campaigns.
That means Rep. Omar really is in a tough Democratic primary campaign against front-running opponent Antone Melton-Meaux and three others. Melton-Meaux has "significantly" out-raised Rep. Omar, especially from donors local to the district, as the Washington Free Beacon reported.
Members of the "Squad" -- the four-member group Rep. Omar is part of -- clashed throughout in 2019 with Speaker Pelosi, which is why it's more interesting she's lending aid now.
• What else to know: While Speaker Pelosi is putting money into Rep. Omar's campaign, she's spending a lot with her husband's consulting firm. As the Washington Free Beacon reported, Rep. Omar has spent more than $1 million with his firm in the 2020 election cycle -- and more than $600,000 was spent in the first three weeks of July.
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