Sen. Amy Klobuchar, whose name has not appeared on the short lists of vice presidential candidates floated by the Joe Biden campaign in weeks, has removed herself from consideration. Appearing on MSNBC Thursday night, the Minnesota Democrat said that "this is a moment to put a woman of color on that ticket."
"After what I've seen in my state, what I've seen across the country, this is a historic moment and America must seize on this moment," Klobuchar said. "I truly believe, as I actually told the vice president last night when I called him, that I think this is a moment to put a woman of color on that ticket." After the interview aired, Biden tweeted "Amy—from the moment you announced you were running for president in a snowstorm, it wasn't hard to see you had the grit and determination to do anything you set your mind to. You know how to get things done. With your help, we're going to beat Donald Trump."
In the MSNBC interview with Lawrence O'Donnell, he asked if new scrutiny on her history as a tough-on-crime prosecutor in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and her failure to investigate police in misconduct and police shooting cases was a factor in her decision. Klobuchar responded with the not-so-Minnesota nice brusqueness so evident in the debates. "I think I could have functioned fine," she said. "There's a lot of untruths out there about my record and now is not the time to debate those.[ …] What this moment should be about is uniting our country and bringing us together. I will do everything, and my resolve has not changed in any way, to help Joe Biden get elected."
"There are so many incredibly qualified women," Klobuchar said, "but if you want to heal this nation right now, my party yes, but our nation, this is sure a hell of a way to do it."