Leaked from Hillary’s camp: VP possibilities

There’s a leak in Hillary Clinton’s camp. Don’t be surprised if she (or Bill) did the puncturing of the hole allowing ‘confidential’ information to seep out. The Clintons, while vetting vice presidential possibilities, may also be gauging the reaction of voters around the country to the different potential candidates being considered. It’s a good strategy, and nothing new in the world of presidential politics.

In the running, says Dylan Matthews of Vox, are a number of interesting personalities. Bernie Sanders, by the way, is not being considered. I never thought he would be. Bernie will stay on the sidelines throughout, pushing Hillary to live up to promises – that Sanders made important during the primaries. Anyway, with Hillary about to turn 70 and Sanders almost halfway to 80, Democrats do not want to be labeled as strictly a grey panther ticket. Although, for a man of 74, Bernie Sander has done very well with the younger crowd. (It’s the message. Something Hillary will have to refine.)

First on everybody’s list is Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. She may be who Hillary needs to attract and draw-in many of Bernie Sanders’ voters still mad with Clinton. (By the way, getting mad at an opponent during any campaign is normal. How to bring them back into the fold – in this case the Democrat’s, that’s the puzzle that must be worked out. Or have you forgotten how much dislike there was between Hillary’s camp and Obama’s in 2008?)

As Matthews says of Warren: “Suffice it to say she’s one of the most famous and popular Democratic politicians in the country, with a huge social media following and passionate fans among the Democratic base.

“She’s proven to be an excellent anti–Donald Trump attack dog already this cycle, and her anti–Wall Street credentials and populist approach to economic issues would help shore up Sanders supporters who might be skeptical of Clinton’s ties to the financial sector.” In other words, the Sanders antidote Hillary needs.

Other prospective candidates include Labor Secretary Tom Perez; Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro; Senators Tim Kaine of Virginia, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Cory Booker of New Jersey; Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Reps. Xavier Becerra of California and Tim Ryan of Ohio.

They all seem viable and ready for the task. But allow me to speak of the two that I know personally. Both are Latinos who I have met over the years. I will mention Julián Castro first. A young man I first met during my time working with Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, when he first ran for mayor of San Antonio. And Rep. Xavier Becerra, who I’ve known briefly for almost 20 years. Becerra has been an ally in Congress, on the Cuba issue, since the decade of the 1990s.

Julián Castro is young, super intelligent and destined for great things in the future. Becerra, more seasoned and ready for the job right now. Either one (and also Tom Perez) would inspire millions of Latinos in this country to register (if they are not registered already) and vote, to show Trump that we can build walls, with votes, that will keep him out of the White House.

One last thought. A Latino vice president is the first step to a Latino president. Can you imagine? First a black man. Followed by a woman. And then we can dream of a Latino – in the White House of the United States.

[Photo at top of Hillary Clinton with potential running mate Julián Castro.]