Elizabeth Warren Reportedly Top Candidate For Running Mate, ‘In Regular Contact’ With Joe Biden

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has been “in regular contact” with former Vice President Joe Biden, The Hill reported on Thursday.

Warren is reportedly seen as one of the top contenders to be Biden’s running mate in November’s 2020 presidential election, when he will presumably face off against President Donald Trump. According to the publication’s sources, the Massachusetts senator has “increased her outreach” to Biden’s allies on Capitol Hill.

She has also allegedly been in contact with former President Barack Obama. According to those close to Obama, the former commander-in-chief is impressed with her proposals to revive the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“With the economy in the gutter, I think he believes she can play a big role in the recovery. He appreciates her ideas,” an Obama ally told The Hill.

An individual close to Biden said the former vice president feels similarly about her. The person said he also “appreciates and respects” Warren’s proposals.

“She’s at the top of the list for a reason,” they added.

Polling suggests that picking Warren as the vice presidential candidate would be a good decision. A recent Politico/Morning Consult survey showed that 26 percent of voters would be more likely to back Biden if he chose Warren as his running mate. The survey also found that she is popular among African-American voters, Hispanics, and voters under the age of 45.

Nevertheless, she is a risky pick. The former White House hopeful hails from the state of Massachusetts, which is governed by Republican Charlie Baker.

If Biden picks Warren as his running mate, Baker will have the power to select anyone he wants to fill her seat, which could jeopardize the Democratic Party’s chances of taking control of the Senate. His temporary appointee would be replaced or reelected in a special election in 2021.

Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Kamala Harris of California have also been talked about as top contenders for Biden’s vice presidential pick. Given that they are both from blue states, they seem to have a significant advantage over Warren.

But, according to some, picking the Massachusetts senator would still be a wise move. Democratic strategist Mike Lux has claimed that she “would be the strongest pick electorally.”

“There’s this big enthusiasm gap in a lot of the polls between Biden and Trump, and I think Warren would really help change that dynamic,” he explained.

Biden’s team has reportedly also been in contact with Florida Rep. Val Demings. The former vice president — who has vowed to pick a woman as his running mate — is allegedly looking for an experienced politician who participated in a nationwide campaign to join his ticket.