This might be a head fake by Willie Brown—intended to deflate, just a bit, the perception that Kamala Harris is the Democratic Party “establishment” pick for VP.
If that’s true, Biden has made his choice: It’s Kamala.
No surprise, he’s been signalling that choice for weeks. Now, however, we can see more of his strategy for the unveil. The narrative needs to be about her star quality and her leadership skills, not about the selection process or which party faction the pick is supposed to please.
I still think Biden’s numbers are going to take a hit after he announces, regardless of the pick. His current standing reflects both his unique ability to reassure white rural Midwesterners anxious about the loss of white privilege and patriarchy. Biden will lose some points in critical swing states when his choice of running mate makes those folks more aware that he represents a transition to a new, progressive, multiracial America rather than a step backward toward a less tumultuous time. And he’ll lose more voters, on balance, because many of those same voters still aren’t ready for a woman to be on the ticket.