Sen. Amy Klobuchar is in the mix for Joe Biden's running mate

What would she bring? Her message of Midwestern electability and centrist views that echo Biden's.

March 21, 2020 at 9:30PM
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., endorses Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden at a campaign rally Monday, March 2, 2020 in Dallas.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., endorsed Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden at a campaign rally Monday, March 2, 2020 in Dallas. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Former Vice President Joe Biden is now the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, so expect a couple of months of speculation about Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., as a possible running mate.

At his debate on March 15 with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Biden pledged to pick a woman as his vice presidential candidate.

The next day, the Washington Post put Klobuchar second on a list of likely prospects behind California Sen. Kamala Harris. That echoes speculation by pundits and insiders who cite Klobuchar's swift endorsement of Biden after she dropped out of the race ahead of Super Tuesday.

She did so, according to the latest campaign finance reports, with about $5.2 million left in her campaign coffers. In all, she raised and spent close to $50 million to run for president.

What would she bring? Her message of Midwestern electability (Minnesota is now considered a battleground state) and centrist views that echo Biden's.

Her biggest obstacle? Many Democrats want Biden to nominate a woman of color.

Biden's decision is likely still several months off, and for now the coronavirus pandemic has mostly pushed the presidential race out of the headlines.

For her part, Klobuchar has downplayed the veep chatter, saying she doesn't engage in "hypotheticals."

about the writer

about the writer

Patrick Condon

Night Team Leader

Patrick Condon is a Night Team Leader at the Star Tribune. He has worked at the Star Tribune since 2014 after more than a decade as a reporter for the Associated Press.

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