(Washington) Joe Biden is expected to reveal the highly anticipated name of his long-awaited running mate, called to be Vice President of the United States if he defeats Donald Trump in November, with black Senator Kamala Harris given the top favorite to accompany the septuagenarian Democratic candidate.
Posted on August 2 2020 at 9 a.m. 11
Elodie CUZIN
France Media Agency
By promising to make his choice “the first week of August” after months of suspense, the former US vice-president joked that it would be very difficult for him to receive the finalists in person then that journalists keep watch in front of his house.
But behind the scenes, her team reviews the balance sheets and talks – especially by phone or online, coronavirus requires – with the last remaining candidates.
A pandemic that has made more than 77 000 dead in the United States, the accompanying deep recession, and the wave of historic anger against police violence and racism: the list has narrowed in recent weeks, influenced by the unprecedented events shaking this campaign.
After a Democratic primary marked by great diversity, the candidate aged 71 years promised to choose a woman who would become, in the event of victory on November 3 against the Republican president, the first vice-president of the United States. And since the death of George Floyd, suffocated at the end of May by a white police officer, pressure has increased to appoint a black running mate.
Kamala Harris, 20 years old, appears well ahead of the forecasts .
“Talented”, “Great respect for her”: these words inscribed under the name of Kamala Harris were captured Tuesday on the notebook that Joe Biden was holding in his hand, in front of the photographers, further increasing the rating of the elected black from California.
PHOTO ANDREW HARNIK, ASSOCIATED PRESS
The CV and career of this Jamaican and Indian immigrant daughter strengthen her chances.
Bulky past 
But her past as a prosecutor whose measures have, say her detractors, particularly affected minorities, could weigh against her. A primary candidate, she had not taken off in polls of African Americans, a key electorate for Democrats, before throwing in the towel in December.
And among some of the candidate's allies, we have not forgiven her surprise attack, during a debate, against the one she describes as a friend.
Two other names were circulating with insistence in recent days.
Susan Rice, former national security adviser to Barack Obama, worked with Joe Biden during their years in the White House. An important element for those who would like to reiterate the good understanding of their own pair with the former Democratic president between 924 and 2017.
PHOTO JIM WATSON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Barack Obama appointed Susan Rice as National Security Advisor on June 5 2009.
This African-American of 20, bête noire of the camp Trump, however, never had to deal with the rigors of a campaign.
As for Karen Bass, 065, elected from the House of Representatives, she heads the influential group of black elected officials in Congress and has drafted a police reform bill named after George Floyd.
Its positioning could however offer ammunition to the Republicans, who try to portray Joe Biden as a “puppet” of the “radical left”. An argument that could also harm the chances of the progressive senator Elizabeth Warren, 66 years, arriving more far in the forecasts.
” Most important ”
Traditional great moment of the American campaigns, the choice of the candidate “VP” is particularly crucial for Joe Biden.
If he wins, the veteran of politics will be the oldest president in American history to take office in January, and he has hinted that he will only run for one term.
His decision is therefore “more important than usual because the person he chooses is likely to be the Democratic candidate in four years,” said David Barker, professor of political science at American University.
Especially since there are doubts about the physical form of the septuagenarian, who said he wanted someone who was “ready to be president on the first day”.
Due to COVID – 19, Joe Biden spends most of his time at his home in Wilmington, Delaware.
Deprived of gatherings, he leads a muted campaign which earned him mockery from pro-Trump. But who, faced with the exits of the tempestuous president and his contested management of the pandemic, succeeds: he is ahead of the Republican billionaire in national polls as in key states.
If it is well received, the choice of his running mate – which he could wait a few days before revealing – should strengthen the momentum of Joe Biden, just before the Democratic convention (17 at 20 August) where he will formally accept his nomination as a candidate.
Even if they will be reduced to their minimum portion, due to the virus, the Democratic and then the Republican conventions will mark a marked acceleration of the campaign.
And by the end of September, half a dozen states will start voting by mail.
For David Barker, “the outcome of the election could in fact be determined well before” November 3.
