It’s almost hard to avoid Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg these days. In the wake of President Joe Biden’s decision to pass the mantle to VP Kamala Harris, Buttigieg has been everywhere, showing off his expertise on a wide range of issues. More than a few people think he would make a great choice to be Harris’ running mate, and that does make a great deal of sense. He would be the first openly gay candidate for the office down the hall from the Oval Office, and the fervor he would generate in the LGBTQ+ community would likely make him a fundraising juggernaut.
Money isn’t really the issue, though. The Biden campaign has already raised some $240 million for the 2024 race and Harris set her own fundraising records last week, raking in another $200 million. No, the problem Harris has to address is a Middle America problem, and she’s not going to do that by adding a homosexual to round out a ticket with an African-American woman at the top.
To be clear, it doesn’t matter to me in the slightest. I think we need the smartest, most qualified leaders we can find. I don’t care if they’re black, white, male, female, gay, straight or anything else, I just want competent, rational people put in positions to meet the biggest challenges facing our country. I’m confident that after four years as VP Harris is up to the challenge, and there’s no question that Buttigieg is a rising star in the Democratic Party. It’s not me they have to win over, though. Harris’ campaign has to find a way to connect with non-MAGA white folks in swing states as well as those desperately seeking an alternative to Donald Trump. Sure, she could find that in Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, whom I also see as a rising star, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer or a number of other people, but Kelly brings a few things they don’t bring.
Kelly is a decorated Navy veteran, a former astronaut, his wife survived actually being shot in defense of Democracy and he is a Senator from one of the aforementioned swing states. He’s also a 60-year-old white man and former combat pilot, which will get the attention of the middle aged white guys who are giving Harris the side eye – my Republican best friend among them. My best friend is literally looking for a third party candidate to waste his vote on if it comes down to Trump and Harris, but with Kelly on the ticket he’s ready to make his vote count.
Harris has played an important role in the Biden White House, especially when it comes to bringing him around on women’s issues and helping him to understand the scope of issues facing minority groups. Now Harris needs just such a partner, one who can help her with foreign policy, the military and with voter blocs which may be hesitant to pull the lever for a woman or a person of color. Kelly would help compensate for some of Harris’ perceived weaknesses and his life experience would prove absolutely invaluable in terms of advising her on a wide array of issues she would face as President.
The Democratic Party has a deep bullpen of up-and-coming potential VP candidates, but none of the names mentioned to date have the potential to boost Harris over the finish line in November like Mark Kelly. We don’t know when Harris will decide her running mate, but if she gives Kelly the nod he is more than up for the challenges ahead.
-B
Ishmael's Legacy 