Speculation over whom Joe Biden will pick as his running mate continues intensifying, as various media reports say the campaign has narrowed the list to four, three of whom are Black women.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, U.S. Rep. Val Demings and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, along with U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, were reported by The Week on Friday as Biden's top four picks.
On Monday, Bottoms touted her support for Biden, which was announced one year ago.
Earlier this year, Biden committed to choosing a female running mate and also said he would appoint a Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court. Since the death of George Floyd while in custody of Minneapolis police and the resulting national unrest and protests, some Democrats are reportedly increasing pressure on Biden to choose a Black female running mate.
But in a June CBS News poll, Warren topped the list of prospects that Democrats wanted Biden to consider, followed by Harris. Warren also led among Black Democrats, with 72% saying she should be considered, with 60% backing Harris.
Harris and Warren are widely seen by Democratic officials and activists close to the process as front-runners, though other candidates remain in the mix. A Biden aide told NBC News that "the process is dynamic and ongoing and no final decision has been made."
In a May MSNBC appearance, Biden said more than a dozen women were being vetted by his vice presidential committee, adding there "is significantly more than one Black woman" being considered.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar recently removed herself from the running, urging Biden to pick a woman of color.
On June 19, a Fox Business Network correspondent said Biden's list of choices was down to Harris and Demings, reports that Biden's campaign immediately disputed.
President Donald Trump said Biden should pick Warren, telling the New York Post in May, "Elizabeth Warren is responsible for Joe Biden's win because she didn't drop out and [Vermont Sen.] Bernie [Sanders] would have won every single state on Super Tuesday."
A Civiqs-Data For Progress poll this month found former Georgia state lawmaker Stacey Abrams as the top preference of Black Democrats. Next was Warren, six points ahead of Harris. The poll was conducted June 18-22 among 510 Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents between ages 18-34 in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.
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