by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
Last week former HUD Secretary Julian Castro dropped out of the Democratic presidential race, but he did not slip quietly into political obscurity. On the way out the door Castro stopped long enough to give Senator Elizabeth Warren a big, flowery endorsement. Since then he has accompanied Warren to several campaign events and the two are presenting as somewhat of a pair - or a couple - or an outright ticket!
And while a Massachusetts politician seeking the presidency with the aid of a Texas running mate may seem like a bold move, for the Democratic Party it is bordering on becoming routine. In fact, if this coupling comes about, it will be the third in my lifetime.
In 1960 Massachusetts' Senator John F. Kennedy, much to the disgust of his younger brother Bobby, chose Texas Senator Lyndon B. Johnson as his running mate, a move that brought Johnson into the White House when Kennedy was assassinated three years later. That race was close, but Kennedy and Johnson managed to eek out a win against Californian Richard Nixon and the other senator from Massachusetts, Henry Cabot Lodge.
Jump to 1988, and the Democrats again put up a Massachusetts-Texas ticket. This time the party presidential nominee was Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts, and his running mate was Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas. It was a rough race, and the GOP nominee, George H.W. Bush, the sitting vice-president, chose to go full racist with the now infamous Willie Horton ads. Bush, also a Texan (though he was born in Connecticut), won that race.
Now we are almost ready to start the 2020 primary season, and the Massachusetts-Texas axis appears to be ready to rise again.
It used to be that geographical "balance" was something that was of importance in forming a ticket, but now with social media drawing us all closer, the role of geographical balance is no longer clear. It also used to be that the selection of a vice-presidential running mate was one of the few surprises to come out of a convention, but now even that appears to be changing. When Joe Biden made his presidential announcement a few months ago, it was rumored that he was going to break precedent at that point and name his running mate - and instead of going for "geographical" balance, Biden would opt for gender, racial and age balance by announcing that he was going to run with black Georgia female politician, Stacey Abrams. However, Ms. Abrams quickly nixed that grand plan by announcing that she had no interest in being Joe's veep.
Several weeks ago when California Senator Kamala Harris surprised the political world by suddenly dropping out of the presidential race, there was some speculation that she was clearing the deck to become Biden's running mate. Harris did not endorse anyone as she exited the race, but, like Ms. Abrams, she is a woman of color - and considerably younger than Biden, a combination that had at one time seemed to be of interest to Joe Biden.
And while geographical balance may not be the defining factor of the next election, it will likely have some impact. California will be won by the Democratic presidential candidate, almost completely regardless of whom that person turns out to be. Texas, however, will be a different story. If the Democrats win Texas, the Trumps will be packing their bags and preparing to fly to Florida for good!
2020 is shaping up to be a defining year in American history, and it may just become the year when Democrats begin entering their national conventions knowing the complete tickets from which they will be choosing. And maybe that's a good thing - I'm not sure - but it will probably make the conventions a little less interesting - and that is not a good thing.
Of course. Democrats being Democrats can always be counted on for a few surprises and floor brawls. Maybe this year to pique the public interest they could vote on a resolution to do away with "super delegates" and return the full power of the convention to the rank and file Democrats who get out and fight for their places at the conventions. That would be an exercise in democracy worthy of the Democratic Party.
Citizen Journalist
Last week former HUD Secretary Julian Castro dropped out of the Democratic presidential race, but he did not slip quietly into political obscurity. On the way out the door Castro stopped long enough to give Senator Elizabeth Warren a big, flowery endorsement. Since then he has accompanied Warren to several campaign events and the two are presenting as somewhat of a pair - or a couple - or an outright ticket!
And while a Massachusetts politician seeking the presidency with the aid of a Texas running mate may seem like a bold move, for the Democratic Party it is bordering on becoming routine. In fact, if this coupling comes about, it will be the third in my lifetime.
In 1960 Massachusetts' Senator John F. Kennedy, much to the disgust of his younger brother Bobby, chose Texas Senator Lyndon B. Johnson as his running mate, a move that brought Johnson into the White House when Kennedy was assassinated three years later. That race was close, but Kennedy and Johnson managed to eek out a win against Californian Richard Nixon and the other senator from Massachusetts, Henry Cabot Lodge.
Jump to 1988, and the Democrats again put up a Massachusetts-Texas ticket. This time the party presidential nominee was Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts, and his running mate was Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas. It was a rough race, and the GOP nominee, George H.W. Bush, the sitting vice-president, chose to go full racist with the now infamous Willie Horton ads. Bush, also a Texan (though he was born in Connecticut), won that race.
Now we are almost ready to start the 2020 primary season, and the Massachusetts-Texas axis appears to be ready to rise again.
It used to be that geographical "balance" was something that was of importance in forming a ticket, but now with social media drawing us all closer, the role of geographical balance is no longer clear. It also used to be that the selection of a vice-presidential running mate was one of the few surprises to come out of a convention, but now even that appears to be changing. When Joe Biden made his presidential announcement a few months ago, it was rumored that he was going to break precedent at that point and name his running mate - and instead of going for "geographical" balance, Biden would opt for gender, racial and age balance by announcing that he was going to run with black Georgia female politician, Stacey Abrams. However, Ms. Abrams quickly nixed that grand plan by announcing that she had no interest in being Joe's veep.
Several weeks ago when California Senator Kamala Harris surprised the political world by suddenly dropping out of the presidential race, there was some speculation that she was clearing the deck to become Biden's running mate. Harris did not endorse anyone as she exited the race, but, like Ms. Abrams, she is a woman of color - and considerably younger than Biden, a combination that had at one time seemed to be of interest to Joe Biden.
And while geographical balance may not be the defining factor of the next election, it will likely have some impact. California will be won by the Democratic presidential candidate, almost completely regardless of whom that person turns out to be. Texas, however, will be a different story. If the Democrats win Texas, the Trumps will be packing their bags and preparing to fly to Florida for good!
2020 is shaping up to be a defining year in American history, and it may just become the year when Democrats begin entering their national conventions knowing the complete tickets from which they will be choosing. And maybe that's a good thing - I'm not sure - but it will probably make the conventions a little less interesting - and that is not a good thing.
Of course. Democrats being Democrats can always be counted on for a few surprises and floor brawls. Maybe this year to pique the public interest they could vote on a resolution to do away with "super delegates" and return the full power of the convention to the rank and file Democrats who get out and fight for their places at the conventions. That would be an exercise in democracy worthy of the Democratic Party.
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