GONE THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS
WITH BARACK OBAMA.
AFTER MONTHS OF SPECULATION, JOE
BIDEN IS POISED TO MAKE HIS HIGH
STAKES BIG.
>> EVERY ONE OF THE WOMEN WE’VE
INTERVIEWED IS QUALIFIED AND
I’VE NARROWED IT DOWN.
YOU’LL FIND OUT SHORTLY.
>> Reporter: BIDEN’S SHORT LIST
ACCORDING TO SOURCES FAMILIAR
WITH THE SEARCH, HIS FORMER
RIVAL SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS, HIS
ONE-TIME COLLEAGUE FORMER
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SUSAN
RICE, AND MICHIGAN GOVERNOR
GRETCHEN WHITMER.
THE CAMPAIGN VETTING WOMEN FROM
A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS.
HISTORY SHOWS RUNNING MATES CAN
BE POLITICAL ASSETS.
A ROLE BIDEN HAS PLAYED BEFORE.
IN 2008 BARACK OBAMA, A
WASHINGTON NEWCOMER, CHOSE THE
VETERAN SENATOR TO EASE CONCERNS
ABOUT HIS OWN INEXPERIENCE.
>> HE’S AN EXPERT ON FOREIGN
POLICY WHOSE HEART AND VALUES
ARE FIRMLY ROOTED IN THE MIDDLE
CLASS.
>> Reporter: IN 1960 ANOTHER
RISING STAR JOHN F. KENNEDY PUT
LYNDON JOHNSON ON THE TICKET.
THE TEXAN HELPING JFK WIN
SOUTHERN VOTERS.
>> I THINK HE CAN PLAY A ROLE AS
VICE PRESIDENT MORE INFLUENTIAL
THAN OTHERS.
>> Reporter: IN 1980, UNITING
THE PARTY AFTER A PRIMARY.
>> I AM RECOMMENDING THAT GEORGE
BUSH BE NOMINATED FOR VICE
PRESIDENT.
>> Reporter: IN 1992, BILL
CLINTON PICKED AL GORE.
G.O.A.T.
BOTH REINFORCING THE CHANGE.
>> THE MAN STANDING BESIDE ME
TODAY HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO LEAD
THIS NATION FROM THE DAY WE TAKE
OFFICE.
>> Reporter: STILL SOME
CANDIDATES HAVE FAMOUSLY
BACKFIRED.
IN 1972, GEORGE McGOVERN UNDER
PRESSURE CHOSE SENATOR THOMAS
EAGLETON WITHOUT VETTING HIM.
HE WAS FORCED TO DROP OUT AFTER
ONLY 18 DAYS AMID REVELATIONS HE
HAD BEEN HOSPITALIZED FOR
DEPRESSION AND TREATED WE
ELECTROSHOCK THERAPY DECADES
EARLIER.
WALTER MONDALE TRIED TO JUMP
START HIS CAMPAIGN WITH A
HISTORIC CHOICE OF A VICE
PRESIDENT FOR PRESIDENT.
GERALDINE FERRARO.
>> I LOOKED FOR THE BEST VICE
PRESIDENT AND I FOUND HER IN
GERI.
>> Reporter: BUT SHE WAS FORCED
TO DEFEND HER FINANCES AND HER
HUSBAND’S BUSINESS PRACTICES.
>> AT NO TIME DID I VIOLATE ANY
TRUST THAT WAS PLACED IN ME BY
MY CONSTITUENTS.
>> Reporter: IN 2008 JOHN McCAIN
PICKED AN UNTESTED GOVERNOR WHOM
HE BARELY KNEW FOR THE TICKET.
>> GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN OF THE
GREAT STATE OF ALASKA.
>> Reporter: SARAH PALIN HAD A
SUCCESSFUL ROLLOUT FIRING UP
CONSERVATIVES, BUT SHE STUMBLED
IN INTERVIEWS RAISING QUESTIONS
ABOUT HER KNOWLEDGE AND
EXPERIENCE.
WHEN ASKED BY KATIE COURIC WHAT
NEWSPAPER SHE READ.
>> I’VE READ MOST OF THEM AGAIN
WITH A GREAT APPRECIATION FOR
THE PRESS, FOR THE MEDIA.
>> BUT WHAT ONES SPECIFICALLY?
I’M CURIOUS.
>> ALL OF THEM.
ANY OF THEM.
>> ANDREA, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
FACTORS GUIDING BIDEN’S
DECISION?
IT’S ALWAYS A CONSEQUENTIAL ONE.
AND HOW SOON WITH WE EXPECT IT?
YOU USUALLY BREAK THE STORY.
>> Reporter: WELL, WE CERTAINLY
HOPE TO.
CLEARLY JOE BIDEN WANTS SOMEONE
WHO WILL BE A JOE BIDEN JUST AS
HE WAS TO BARACK OBAMA.
LOYAL, READY TO TAKE OVER IF
NEEDED.
HE IS LOOKING VERY CLOSELY AT
TWO BLACK FINALISTS.
KAMALA HARRIS AND SUSAN RICE.
HE ALSO LIKES GRETCHEN WHITMER,
ESPECIALLY THE WAY SHE’S BEEN
HANDLING THE PANDEMIC.
AND I’M TOLD TAMMY DUCKWORTH WHO
IS A GREAT MILITARY STORY THERE
IS IN THE MIX.
BIDEN HAS WANTED TO HOLD
IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS.
THAP IS COMPLICATED BY THE
PANDEMIC.
SOME ADVISERS SAY THEY NEED A
STRONG CAMPAIGNER TO ADD
EXCITEMENT.
THAT WOULD BE KAMALA HARRIS.
OTHERS SAY GO WITH SOMEONE YOU
TRUST, SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE
IN GOVERNMENT.
THAT WOULD BE SUSAN RICE.
IT’S STILL VERY FLUID.
THE DECISION COULD BE ANNOUNCED
AS EARLY AS MONDAY.