There have been several profiles, editorials, and stories about Tammy Duckworth lately, along with rumors that she has shot to the top of potential running mates as Biden vets his potential VP candidates. This has lead me to give her a second (actually, a first) look, and I really can’t see any downsides to picking her, unlike many of the other candidates. Susan Rice and many of the Mayors are wonderful, but they have never won a national race for office, which, to me, excludes them from being contenders. I also don’t see Biden picking Warren, for multiple reasons.
Which, for me, just leaves Harris and Duckworth. Harris is great and I think Biden would do fine with her on the ticket, but her past as a prosecutor will be an issue. Honestly, I don’t think it’s an issue that will matter, in the long run (it might even help her with suburban voters). However, I don’t think Duckworth has as many downsides as Harris. She comes from a working class background, she has a compelling backstory (in fact, probably one of the most compelling backstories of any candidate to be VP, ever), and I think her politics mesh with Biden’s as well as Harris’ do. And perhaps most importantly, she will eviscerate Trump’s abhorrent treatment of the military and veterans in a way that I don’t think any other candidate could.
More than anything, though, she just seems to be a good person. All of the other candidates are as well, but Duckworth exudes warmth.
What say you all? Honestly, I haven’t really been following her career that closely, so I really don’t know of any downsides she might have. Which is why I wrote this diary as I’d like to hear what you all think.