New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) might be “capable” of being president, but former Vice President Joe Biden (D) would rather have a woman as his running mate.
Biden was asked during a CNN virtual town hall late Thursday if he would consider Cuomo — whose state has taken a hard hit from the coronavirus pandemic — for his ticket.
The presumptive 2020 Democratic nominee was asked, “Despite your previous pledge to pick a woman for vice president, would you reconsider that for a qualified candidate who has performed admirably during this crisis, like Governor Cuomo?”
“I think that Governor Cuomo is capable of being president,” Biden answered. “I think he’s a great guy, but I also think that it’s important that there be a woman.”
“Look, I want an administration to look — and there’s plenty of qualified, there’s plenty of women with the experience and with the capability of being president tomorrow. And I think it’s important that we begin to have my administration, God-willing, is going to look like America and I genuinely mean that. Not just vice president but making sure that we have a Supreme Court, we have a cabinet, we have a White House that looks like the country. And I think it really matters.”
He added, “I think it’s really important — and there’s plenty of qualified people who have the experience and background who are women and are ready to be president on day one. And I’m gonna stick with that.”
See Biden’s comments below:
Joe Biden says he thinks NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo is “capable” of being President but that he still plans to choose a woman as his VP: “There’s plenty of qualified people who have the experience and background who are women who are ready to be President” #CNNTownHall pic.twitter.com/hx7QhLYbFB
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) April 17, 2020
Biden’s latest comments on choosing a woman as his running mate follow after he committed to doing so during a Democratic debate, as IJR previously reported.
There have been names floated on possible vice presidential picks for Biden, and some women have made it clear that they would be happy to be chosen by him.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said on Thursday that she “would be honored if I were being considered,” but also noted her focus on the coronavirus crises.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) also shared on Wednesday that she would say “yes” if Biden asked her.
Additionally, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams recently shared how she “would be honored” if Biden picked her and that she thinks she would be “an excellent running mate.”
In early April during a virtual fundraising event, Biden noted that “sometime in the middle of the month” that his campaign is “going to announce a committee that’s going to be overseeing the vice presidential selection process.”
