>>> THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN IS IN THE
FINAL STREP OF VETTING A VICE
PRESIDENT CANDIDATE AND A LARGE
GROUP TO CHOOSE FROM WITH JOE
BIDEN PERSONALLY INTERVIEWING
THE TOP CONTENDERS LATER THIS
WEEK AMID FIERCE LOBBYING BY
DEMOCRATS FOR RESPECTIVE PICKS.
JOINING ME NOW, NBC NEWS
CORRESPONDENT MIKE MEMOLI,
FORMER REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN MICHAEL
STEELE AND KIMBERLY ATKINS.
MIKE, VETERAN BIDEN WATCHER.
HE WAS AT THE BEACH THIS WEEKEND
IN REHOBOTH ACCORDING TO YOUR
REPORTING.
WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE
SEARCH?
WHERE DO YOU THINK THIS IS
GOING?
>> YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT, ANDREA.
A LITTLE CHANGE OF SCENERY FOR
THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT AS
BIDEN ADVISERS TELL MY COLLEAGUE
KRISTEN WELKER, KARA LEE AND
MYSELF, THE BALL IS ENTIRELY NOW
IN JOE BIDEN’S COURT.
THE PROCESS AXAS YOU INDICATED E
PLAY OUT INTO NEXT WEEK.
REFLECTING ONCE BIDEN FULLY
ENGAGES THINGS GET MORE
DELIBERATIVE.
THE CAMPAIGN IS WAITING FOR ALSO
POLLING DATA TO COME BACK ON
EVEN OF THE POTENTIAL VPs.
YOU’VE HEARD JIM CLYBURN SAY
OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT THE
CAMPAIGN NEEDS TO GET SEVERAL
THINGS RIGHT.
VETTING AS WELL AS POLLING AND
ULTIMATELY, THE SEARCH COMMITTEE
FOR JOE BIDEN IS HIS HEAD, HEART
AND GUT.
THOSE ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS
WE EXPECT THIS WEEK WILL BE
CRITICAL FOR THAT.
OVER AND OVER AGAIN BIDEN
CAMPAIGN AIDES SAYING THE
PERSONAL CHEMISTRY HE HAS WITH
HIS POTENTIAL VICE PRESIDENT IS
REALLY ONE OF THE FINAL FACTORS
THAT’S GOING TO WEIGH INTO HIS
CONSIDERATION.
THE QUESTION, OF COURSE, ANDREA,
WILL HE BE ABLE TO DO THE
MEETINGS IN PERSON?
OBVIOUSLY WE’RE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR SIGNS OF THOSE POTENTIAL
VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICKS COMING
HERE TO DELAWARE TO HAVE THOSE
MEETINGS.
IN ADDITION TO CONCERNS ABOUT
COVID AND HEALTH AND SAFETY
RELEVANT TO THAT DISCUSSION,
ALSO A STORM COMING HERE IN THE
NEXT 24 HOURS THAT MIGHT IMPACT
IT.
ALL INDICATIONS THE LIST
NARROWED SOME.
ANOTHER THING THE CAMPAIGN
ADVISERS TELL US, THAT THE
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT IS LIKELY
TO WANT TO HEAR, SOUND OUT AIDES
ON NAMES THAT MIGHT NECESSARILY
HAVE FALLEN OFF THE RADAR,
GRETCHEN WHITMER FIRST,
DEVELOPED A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
>> WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT
MICHIGAN IS.
BEFORE I MOVE ON, ASK YOU FROM
OUR REPORTING END OF THE WEEK,
SEEMED TO BE HARRIS, RICE AND
KAREN BASS MOVING UP.
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE AFTER THIS
WEEKEND?
ABOUT THE STRENGTHS OF EACH?
AND POTENTIAL DRAWBACKS?
>> Reporter: YEAH.
I THINK THE CANDIDATE WE SAW
MOST ON THE DEFENSIVE, OF
COURSE, CONGRESSWOMAN KAREN
BASS.
LATE TO THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL
SEARCH PROCESS.
THE VETTING BEGAN LATER AND WE
SEE OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THE ISSUES
COMING OUT.
HER PASS COMMENTS, TRAVELS TO
CUBA.
FIRST AND FOREMOST AMONG THEM.
REPUBLICANS, TRUMP CAMPAIGN
SEIZING ON THEM OVER THE
WEEKEND.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REMARKS SHE
GAVE AT A CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY
EVENT IN HER DISTRICT.
KAMALA HARRIS, OF COURSE, ALWAYS
BETTING FAVORITE.
SINCE EVEN BEFORE BOTH
INDIVIDUALS GOT IN TO THE
PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
A SEEMING NATURAL CHEMISTRY
BETWEEN THEM.
A RELATIONSHIP THAT GOES BACK.
THE TEST BEING APPLIED NOT JUST
TO KAMALA HARRIS BUT TO EVERYONE
IN THIS PROCESS IS THE QUESTION
OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN BE
SEEN AS A TEAM PLAYER.
WE’VE SEEN QUESTIONS RAISED
ABOUT HER AMBITION FROM BIDEN
THAT’S PROVOKED CHARGES OF
SEXISM.
CAMPAIGN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
THAT.
SAW THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER WEIGH
IN SAYING ALL OF THE -- WOMEN OF
IM
AMBITION WIN AND THE FORMER VICE
PRESIDENT WILL CHOOSES AN
AMBITIOUS WOMAN IN THE END.
OF COURSE, SUSAN RICE, YOU KNOW
THE RELATIONSHIP THERE FORGED TZ
IN THE OBAMA WHITE HOUSE SO
CRITICAL.
WORKED IN THE TRENCHES TOGETHER.
THE QUESTION THERE IS HOW MUCH
OF A CAMPAIGN ISSUE THEY ALLOW
TO BE BROUGHT IN THE ISSUES OF
BENGHAZI AND MASKING THEY WANTED
TO JUMP-START IN THE
CONVERSATION.
>> THE DEBATE, A COMPLETE
FALSIFIED, AS WELL AS BENGHAZI
BUT HASN’T RUN FOR ELECTED
OFFICE.
THEY WILL TRY TO SULLY ANYONE
CHOSEN, OF COURSE.
KIMBERLY, WE’VE SEEN AN UNSEEMLY
LOBBYING BACK AND FORTH AND
CERTAINLY A LOT OF COMPETITION
HERE BUT COMMENTS MADE ABOUT
KAMALA HARRIS AND WHAT HAS ALL
THE HALLMARKS ACCORDING TO
CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT WHOSE KNOW
THE PROCESS OF A REAL JUMP
AGAINST KAREN BASS?
>> Reporter: YES.
AND ONE CONCERN THAT SOME
DEMOCRATS HAVE IS AHEAD OF THIS
DELIBERATE PROCESS, WHICH, YOU
KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT FOLKS
WANTING THIS PROCESS TO WRAP UP
QUICKLY.
IT SEEMS THAT FORMER VICE
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS MORE
INTERESTED IN GETTING IT RIGHT
THAN GETTING IT FAST, WHICH WHEN
TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO IS A
HEARTBEAT AWAY FROM THE
PRESIDENCY, THAT’S THE RIGHT WAY
TO GO, BUT THIS LEADUP AND BACK
AND FORTH IS REALLY SEEMING TO
PIT PARTICULARLY BLACK WOMEN
AGAINST EACH OTHER, AND RAISE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AMBITION OF
BLACK WOMEN AT A TIME WHERE YOU
ARE HEARING FROM ACROSS THE
SPECTRUM A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING
THAT THIS, THE CHOICE SHOULD BE
A BLACK WOMAN AMONG ALL OF THESE
VERY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES.
IT’S NOT A MATTER OF
QUALIFICATION.
IT’S A MATTER OF EACH OF THESE
WOMEN BRING DIFFERENT THINGS TO
THE OFFICE AND WHAT JOE BIDEN IS
LOOKING FOR IN THAT PARTNER.
BUT THAT BACK AND FORTH, THOSE
CLAIMS THAT SENATOR HARRIS IS
TOO AMBITIOUS AND OTHERS IS
REALLY AT THE SAME TIME GIVING A
BLACK EYE TO A BIT OF THIS
PROCESS AND PERHAPS IT WOULD BE
MORE -- WOULD BE BETTER FOR
DEMOCRATS TO STEP BACK, LET THE
VICE PRESIDENT PICK WHO HE
THINKS WOULD BE HIS BEST
TEAMMATE.
THESE ARE ALL QUALIFIED PEOPLE I
AM CERTAIN WE WILL SEE IN JOE
BIDEN WINS IN THIS CABINET
PLAYING OTHER PROMINENT ROLES
ALSO IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.
SEEM AS TOTAL WIN IN THIS SORT
OF BICKERING AND OP-O RESEARCH
AGAINST ONE --
ONLY CAUSING PROBLEMS WITHIN THE
PARTY.
>> INDEED.
WHAT ABOUT THE FACT ELIZABETH
WARREN POLLS BEST WITH
PROGRESSIVES, KIMBERLY?
MY OWN TAKE, AT THIS POINT IN
HISTORY, THIS POINT IN THE
CAMPAIGN, IN AMERICA, THAT JOE
BIDEN REALLY IS MOST LIKELY TO
CHOOSE A BLACK WOMAN?
WHAT IF HE WERE TO GO TO AN
ELIZABETH WARREN?
DESPITE CONCERNS THAT SHE WOULD
THEN THAT COULD THEN COST THEM A
SENATE SEAT?
>> YEAH.
ON ONE HAND -- LOOK, ANY COST OF
A SENATE SEAT OUT OF
MASSACHUSETTS AT THIS POINT
WOULD BE TEMPORARY.
I THINK IT’S CERTAIN DESPITE THE
FACT MASSACHUSETTS HAS A
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR HE WOULD
INSTALL SOMEONE TEMPORARILY, A
SPECIAL ELECTION AND I BET MONEY
A DEMOCRAT WOULD WIN THAT, BUT
ELIZABETH WARREN PULLS WELL NOT
JUST AMONG PROGRESSIVES.
ALSO AMONG BLACK VOTERS.
THERE IS NOT A UNIVERSAL THOUGHT
THAT A BLACK WOMAN MUST BE
CHOSEN AT THIS TIME.
CERTAINLY IF IT’S SOMEBODY WHO
BLACK VOTERS LIKE.
LIKE ELIZABETH WARREN, KEEP IN
MIND, THE WOMAN WHO DID BEST IN
THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.
AT THE SAME TIME, JOE BIDEN
WOULD RISK THE IDEA THAT HE IS
MISSING A MOMENT IN CHOOSING ONE
OF ONLY TWO WHITE WOMEN WHO ARE
STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION AMONG
HIS VERY QUALIFIED FOLKS.
ALSO, THERE ARE A LOT OF ROLES
THAT ELIZABETH WARREN COULD ALSO
SERVE IN A BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
SO IT’S A TOUGH CHOICE THAT THE
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT IS MAKING,
BUT ELIZABETH WARREN IS NOT
COUNTED OUT YET.
>> AND, MICHAEL STEELE, WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT THIS, IS IT GOING ON
TOO LONG?
IS THE PROCESS COUP CUMBERSOME
OR THIS IS JUST THE WAITING
PERIOD WHERE A LOT OF BAD THINGS
HAPPEN?
BY THE WAY, HARRIS IS, I
UNDERSTAND, THE ONLY ONE WHO WAS
AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
DEFEND HERSELF AGAINST THE
VETTING TO THE VETTERS
THEMSELVES?
>> IT’S NOT GONE ON TOO LONG.
IT’S PART AND PARCEL OF THE
PROCESS.
THE PRESIDENT’S NOMINEE DOESN’T
TYPICALLY ANNOUNCE HIS VICE
PRESIDENTIAL CHOICE UNTIL A WEEK
OR TWO OUT BEFORE THE CONVENTION
ITSELF.
USUALLY THE WEEK OF THE
CONVENTION GOING INTO THE
CONVENTION, SORT OF SETS THE
TONE AND STAGE TO HAVE THIS RAH,
RAH MOMENT.
A THINK JOE BIDEN HAS DONE THIS
EXACTLY RIGHT.
I THINK WHERE HE MAY HAVE
TRIPPED UMP A LITTLE BIT
INDICATING EARLY ON HE WOULD
SELECT A WOMAN.
IT CREATED A RACIAL SPACE IN MY
SENSE THERE’S A LOT OF FOLKS IN
THE CAMPAIGN UNCOMFORTABLE WITH.
THEY DON’T WANT TO BE DICTATED
TO.
THEY DON’T WANT THESE OTHER
INFLUENCES TO DICTATE HOW THE
PRESIDENTIAL, VICE PRESIDENTIAL
CHOICE IS MADE.
BUT THEY’RE HERE NOW, AND SO
THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO
THROUGH THIS PROCESS, AND THE
QUESTION THAT AT THE END OF ALL
OF THIS THAT REALLY MATTERS IS,
IF HE PICKS SOMEONE OTHER THAN A
BLACK FEMALE, WHAT IS THE
RESPONSE OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY?
NOT WHAT IS THE RESPONSE OF
COUNTRY.
WHAT IS THE RESPONSE OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
AND THAT’S AN UNFORTUNATE SPOT
TO BE IN, IF THAT’S WHAT IT
BOILS DOWN TO, BECAUSE THE RACE
IN NOVEMBER IS AGAINST DONALD
TRUMP NOT FOR OR AGAINST HIS
VICE PRESIDENTIAL CHOICE, AND
THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN CERTAINLY
WILL WANT TO PLAY THAT UP.
THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN IS TRYING TO
AVOID THAT NARRATIVE TO MAXIMIZE
EVERYTHING THAT’S BEEN SAID SO
FAR, IN THIS CONVERSATION, BUT
END OF THE DAY, WANT EVERYONE TO
KNOW THAT THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL
CHOICE IS JUST ONE OF MANY