All signs indicate that a moderate ticket is the preferred solution to beat Trump in November. Many Americans—even staunch Democrats—are nervous about a leftist candidate. They’re wary of the repercussions of too much change at once. And, at the end of the day, they believe in a capitalist America where ingenuity and hard work can mean the sky’s the limit. A Biden/Klobuchar ticket is consistent with these values.
Here’s why.
They are both moderate Democrats who stress the importance of reaching across the aisle to unify the country.
Klobuchar is a senator from Minnesota. Minnesota is next to Wisconsin, a pivotal state in the next election. Some pundits say it’s the most important to win. Biden is originally from Pennsylvania, another crucial state in this election. He set up his campaign headquarters in Pennsylvania for that reason. If Democrats can win Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in 2020, they have a much better chance to win nationally.
Biden is the most popular candidate with African Americans. The Black vote is crucial to winning. No other candidate scores as high as Biden with minorities. Klobuchar resonates with Midwesterners—voters who went in surprising numbers for Trump in 2016. Midwesterners trust Klobuchar because unmistakably she is one of them. Klobuchar has also done an effective job of reaching out to rural communities. When she ran for reelection in Minnesota, she campaigned in every rural community in the state. To date, she has done the same thing in Iowa.
Klobuchar is a woman. Many women are more motivated than ever to get Trump out of office. Sixty-three percent of US women have negative feelings about Trump. They also think it’s past time that a woman is elected to national office. This combo would be extremely attractive to that segment who yearns for a female President.
Klobuchar is 59. Biden is 77. Biden might run only for one term. That would position Klobuchar to run for president in 2024. Her experience as vice president would provide comfort for those still leery about voting for a woman president.
Both Klobuchar and Biden have a reputation for getting things done in the Senate. Both have passed more than their share of bills. Klobuchar is ranked first among current Senators in the number of bills passed with more than 100 under her belt. During his long Senate career, Biden sponsored a myriad of bills, including the first climate change bill, and was widely viewed as a master of bipartisanship (although some past positions will present problems given present-day mores about overly tough crime bills, etc. ).
Both Biden and Klobuchar have that “no malarkey” thing going for them. What you see is what you get. They exude sanity, decency, wholesomeness, and human kindness. You sense that they would make well thought out decisions that align with strategies honed from well-informed and well-qualified people in their administration—something that is sorely lacking today.
Both Biden and Klobuchar have similar points of view on healthcare. They want to build on Obamacare, not destroy it. They believe in an incremental approach to fixing the healthcare dilemma in America which is much more in line with what most Americans want. Importantly, neither has had to change their position on healthcare—they got it right from the start of their campaigns.
Biden and Klobuchar are in sync on most other issues: education, climate change, income inequality, and the need for civility in government. Their views are more in line with the way a majority of Americans feel about these issues.
Finally, let’s face it. This country is hungry for stability. We are “all stocked up on crazies” as Jack Nicholson said in As Good as It Gets. The Biden/Klobuchar ticket offers such stability in spades.
Many who read this article will counter that other candidates also offer these moderate qualities: Bloomberg, Buttigieg, Booker, and Bennet come to mind. It’s early in this election process. There is no doubt that surprises will be in store, and other credible combos will emerge. But It’s not too early to think about what a winning ticket might look like and continue to emphasize strengths that can lead to victory.
Maria Grant served as Principal-in-Charge of the Federal Human Capital practice of Deloitte Consulting. Since her retirement from Deloitte, she has focused on writing, music, reading, travel, gardening and nature.
Dennis Leventhal says
My wife and I have extended family spread throughout ME, MA, NJ, PA, NY, MD, VA, FL, OR, WA, CO, IL, & TX. All of us have come to the same conclusion as expressed by Ms. Grant here.
Maria Grant says
Dennis, thanks so much for your comments. I appreciate them. Let’s hope more Americans get on this bandwagon!
Gren Whitman says
How about Klobuchar for president, with Biden for vice?
Deirdre LaMotte says
This has been my dream ticket for awhile. And it is the most practical as well!
Dylan Snow says
While this makes a lot of sense, I think that putting two moderates on the ticket could lower Democratic enthusiasm. Since the Democratic Party is divided between moderates and progressives, I think the best way to win is to make a moderate the nominee with a progressive as the VP nominee, or if a progressive wins the nomination, vice versa. By having a Joe Biden/ Stacey Abrams ticket, for example, a lot of moderates and independents will support it, and a lot of progressives, people of color, and young people will have more enthusiasm for the ticket, and be more likely to vote, campaign, etc. If there’s no progressive on the ticket, it’s likely that some progressives will vote third party or write-in (which happened somewhat in 2016), which could hand Trump reelection. Likewise, if it’s only progressives on the ticket, a lot of independents and moderates could vote Republican or third-party. I think the best way to win is to have a united Democratic Party, with the nominee as a moderate with broad appeal, and a progressive VP nominee.
Deirdre LaMotte says
I understand this argument. Unfortunately, with the Electoral College, it all comes down to the ridiculous battleground states.
This is why this ticket makes sense. Perhaps one day we will realize a democracy should be one person, one vote.
Joe Lill says
We all want a saner, stable government based on equality for all, founded on a clean environment, a healthy population, and a respect for those living around us. The best approach to this is in a pragmatic platform of gradual liberalizing of our government, one election at a time. We need to crawl before we can walk, and walk before we can run. After that we need to convince voters that we can do this while balancing a budget, which we aren’t doing now.
Steve Brightwell says
I’ve loved this ticket for months!!
Steve Brightwell says
I have been telling EVERYONE I know that this would be a fantastic and winning ticket!!
Maria Grant says
Steve,
Thanks for your comments. Let’s hope reason prevails in Iowa!
George Holguin says
I talked to my neighbors watching TV at my home on Super Tuesday.
I brought the Biden Klobuchar ticket up and they were in total agreement.
If that happens we have lots of like thinking friends.
I am Mexican and wife Anglo-with like thinking children and grandchildren.
At least 20 votes just in my family.
Jewish neighbor at least 100.
Tell Joe Biden to go get Klobuchar