Hillary Clinton is the presumptive Democrat nominee and theories are beginning to swirl about what criteria she will use to select a potential running mate.
Throughout this election cycle Julian Castro, secretary of Housing and Urban Development, has been often floated as a likely vice president. This is due to his youth, age 41, and his strong support in the Hispanic community. In fact, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce endorsed Castro for the Democratic vice-presidential nomination. The group hasn’t endorsed anyone for president.
However, with the prospect of facing Donald Trump in the general election becoming ever more likely perhaps it won’t take much effort to galvanize the Latin vote. (RELATED: Hillary Ad Portrays Trump, Arpaio As Against Hispanics)
Clinton has struggled throughout the race to win white votes. Her strength so far has been minority-rich states. Both Bernie Sanders and Trump have grown large movements appealing to working-class whites by denouncing trade deals.
The New York real estate developer has also not toed the GOP party-line and has been able to win over disaffected Democrats. Nearly 20,000 Democrats in Massachusetts switched their party affiliation before the Bay State primary.
Recent analysis has shown that if Trump got just four more percent of the white vote than Romney, he’d be able to flip eight states Obama won in 2012.
This line of thought has led some to think Ohio Sen. [crscore]Sherrod Brown[/crscore] would be a good pick. Brown is a long-time protectionist who stood against NAFTA and also would help Hillary win the all-important state of Ohio.
MSNBC’s Chuck Todd said last week, “I put Sherrod Brown now front of the list, front of the line, as a potential running mate for her, because she’s going to need somebody who appeals to the Sanders-Warren wing.”
Brown has denied this suggestion, telling The Hill Tuesday, “I do not want to be vice president.”
Paul Begala, an adviser to pro-Clinton super PAC Priorities USA, told The Daily Caller Wednesday that Hillary won’t choose a running mate based on potential political benefit.
He said, “Hillary will approach this decision through a substantive lens: if, God forbid, something happened to the president, who could step in?”
“So in addition to someone who could serve as president in a tragedy, she will want someone who can advise her; someone whose judgment, temperament and experience she values. This is not a political decision, nor should it be. And I fully expect her to approach it as a presidential decision,” added Begala.
As he works for a super PAC, the former Clinton adviser can’t coordinate with Hillary’s campaign. We will have to wait and see whether she values race or experience more in a running mate.