[Correspondent Diary] Conditions for the US Vice Presidential Candidate: Obedience Over Ambition?

'Yamangpa' Karen Bass Surges Past Kamala Harris
Biden Delays VP Nomination Again, Expected to Deliberate Until the Last Minute
Female Nominee Anticipated but Demand for 'Neutral' Candidate High
Trump Also Chose Relatively Unknown Pence Over Big Names

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Who will be the Democratic vice-presidential candidate for the U.S. presidential election on November 3? This is a concern for former Vice President Joe Biden, who is looking forward to winning the election with a double-digit lead over President Donald Trump.

As the importance of this vice-presidential nomination is significant, Biden's deliberation is also prolonged. Biden has announced that he has narrowed down the candidates to four, but he has not been able to keep the originally scheduled nomination timeline. The initial plan to announce the nominee by August 1 was postponed once to early August, but it now seems difficult to keep even that promise.

U.S. media such as CNN reported on the 31st of last month (local time) that Biden will not reveal the vice-presidential candidate until the 10th. If the report is accurate, it means the vice-presidential candidate will be decided just a week before the Democratic National Convention, which is scheduled for the 17th to 20th.

This schedule is noticeably later compared to the 2016 election when Hillary Clinton nominated Senator Tim Kaine as her vice-presidential candidate on July 23.

This indicates that narrowing down the vice-presidential candidate is not easy. This vice-presidential nomination is more important than any other presidential election because it effectively sets the stage for the next presidential election after this one.

Biden, currently 77 years old, would become the oldest president in history if elected. If he seeks re-election, he would be over 80. Considering the many concerns about his health, the possibility of him giving up on a second term is high. This increases the likelihood that the vice president will run for president. If the incumbent vice president runs in the primary with the president's support, the chances of being nominated as the candidate increase significantly.

The conditions are already set. First, the candidate must be a woman. It is assessed that the possibility of nominating a white candidate is low. Due to the aftermath of anti-racism protests, the possibility of nominating white or Asian women has decreased according to U.S. political circles.

Reflecting this, the final conclusion is likely to narrow down to a Black woman. Considering that Vice President Mike Pence, Donald Trump's running mate, is a white male, a Black woman would form a perfect contrasting pair.

As Biden's deliberation continues, the leading candidates are gradually changing. Reports have suggested that Susan Rice, former National Security Advisor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, is a strong contender, but many viewed this as Rice's camp trying to stir up support.

Last week, Kamala Harris gained sudden attention when Biden was seen holding a notepad with her name on it during a press conference.

Karen Bass, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He is described as introverted and quiet in personality.

However, the situation seems to be changing. CNN reported on the 31st of last month that Biden has narrowed down the vice-presidential candidates and that Representative Karen Bass (California) is rising rapidly. Political media outlet Politico also reported earlier that Bass, who is introverted and reluctant to step forward, has emerged as one of the final candidates for Biden's vice-presidential pick.

Representative Bass is also familiar to the Korean community. Her 37th district includes part of LA Koreatown. Last year, she was the lead sponsor of a resolution for the reunion of separated Korean American families. She serves as the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, composed of Black lawmakers.

CNN explained that Democratic figures in California are focusing their support on Bass. Enthusiastic Biden supporters have not forgotten that Senator Harris fiercely criticized Biden during the primary process. Biden supporters argue that the presidential and vice-presidential candidates should work as a team, but the combination of the two is inappropriate, and even if elected, Harris may not be a loyal vice president, which makes them reluctant to support her.

Ultimately, CNN introduced that their argument is that Bass is the stable choice. This claim also reflects the significant negative public opinion within the Democratic Party about the vice-presidential candidate running for the next presidential election. Having already lost with a female presidential candidate once, the Democratic Party seems to prefer a vice-presidential candidate who focuses on supporting the president rather than one with presidential ambitions.

Ed Rendell, former governor of Pennsylvania, emphasized, "The nomination of Harris could cause problems. Bass would not. The most important principle in nominating a vice-presidential candidate is that they should not cause harm."

There is a common perception that Harris is obsessed with the presidency beyond the vice presidency. In a speech on the 31st of last month, Harris criticized those opposing her vice-presidential nomination, saying, "There are those who resist women's ambition."

Whether Biden chooses a compliant figure or a rebellious one who speaks up is entirely his decision, but hints about which way the scale might tip can be found in President Trump's choice.

Standing beside President Trump is the extremely loyal Vice President Mike Pence. During the 2016 presidential election, Trump weighed his running mate options among Pence, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, ultimately choosing Pence, who was politically less famous but compliant. Despite Trump's erratic behavior, Pence has remained loyal.

The U.S. vice president is often regarded as a "screen" or "puppet." Although they serve as the President of the Senate, they have no specific duties. Unless the president is incapacitated, there is no reason for the vice president to be in the spotlight. The position was originally established as a safety measure in case of presidential incapacity.

A representative example of the vice president's role is Harry S. Truman, who only learned about the development of the atomic bomb after succeeding President Franklin Roosevelt upon his death. Since then, the status of the U.S. vice president has been strengthened, but the reality is that the American public still does not perceive the vice president as the second-in-command of the administration.