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The disaster began, as so many do, with a few ill-chosen words pouring out of the mouth of Joe Biden in a hamfisted attempt to woe voters. After promising at a March 2020 primary debate to pick a woman as his running mate, Biden then got bullied by fellow Democrats into picking a black woman.
“AfternewsbrokeovertheweekendthatMichiganGov.GretchenWhitmer,awhitewoman,hadflowntomeetwithBidentodiscussthevicepresidency,frustrationanddisappointmentboiledoveramongBlackfemaleDemocrats,”Politicoreported.“HebetterpickaBlackwoman.IfhepicksGretchen,he’llloseMichigan,”saidVirgieRollins,then-chairoftheDemocraticNationalCommitteeBlackCaucus.
That’sironicbecausetheblackwomanhedidpick,KamalaHarris,lostMichiganbyaconvincing1.4pointsin2024.(TheotherstrongcontenderwasStacyAbramsbutshewastoobusycosplayinggovernorofGeorgia.)
Youknowtherestofthestory,howBiden’sselectionrescuedacookie-cutterprogressivesenatorfromherownfailedpresidentialcampaign—“Wedidit,Joe!”—justsoBidencouldbekickedtothecurbtomakewayforHarristo
