Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden needs a running mate and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams believes she is the woman for the job.
The 46-year-old politician was not shy about her ambitions when asked if she would accept an invitation from Biden.
“I would be an excellent running mate,” she told Melissa Harris-Perry. “I have the capacity to attract voters by motivating typically ignored communities. I have a strong history of executive and management experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. I’ve spent 25 years in independent study of foreign policy. I am ready to help advance an agenda of restoring America’s place in the world. If I am selected, I am prepared and excited to serve.”
This is not the first time Abrams has expressed interest in the vice presidency.
“I believe that there is value to serving as the chief lieutenant to someone who has to remake the world that’s been broken by our current administration,” she told Rolling Stone in March.
Unlike her colleagues and potential rivals, Abrams doesn’t believe in playing coy.
“I think it’s not only disingenuous, but it is inappropriate as a woman of color, when presented with that as an option, to dismiss it out of hand,” Abrams added. “Because the idiom ‘You can’t be what you cannot see’ is true. How do you get things if people don’t know you want them? For me, it’s not that I want that for itself, but if people ask me if that’s a job I would take? Absolutely.”
Abrams’ boldness sparked a debate on social media.
“No idea who the VP pick will be, but I have always thought @JoeBiden would pick @staceyabrams,” tweeted New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow. “If u want to see blk women voters, particularly in the South, get excited (and possibly pick up Ga.), Abrams is a no-brainer. Now that I live in Atlanta, the buzz abt her is deafening.”
“I would bet you my youngest son that at least half the people promoting Stacey Abrams for VP because she’s “amazing” could tell you literally zero about her outside of her being a black woman. And I say this as a black woman,” wrote Goody Weaver.
“I’m not excited about a Stacey Abrams VP pick. Honestly, she deserves better than Biden. We all do,” observed political scientist Jenn M. Jackson.
Biden has not announced a running mate, but in March he committed to selecting a woman for the position.
“I commit that I will, in fact, appoint a woman to be vice president,” the former vice president said during a debate. “There are a number of women qualified to be president tomorrow.”
