Joe Biden holds final interviews with VP candidates as he looks to announce pick next week
WASHINGTON – Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, co-chair of Joe Biden's vice president selection committee, said Tuesday that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee plans on spending the next several days interviewing his the finalists to be his running mate.
"We have amazing women that have been a part of this process," Garcetti told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Tuesday. "We're keeping them all, we vetted them heavily. All of them have passed a vet, and now in this next week, week and a half, Mr. Biden can spend some time with them."
Biden, who has pledged to pick a woman for the ticket, initially planned to announce his running mate the first week of August. But reports now indicate that could come next week, giving him more time to settle on a preferred candidate.
"I know he's going to pick a vice president who reflects the same relationship he had with Barack Obama," Garcetti said. "He told us at the beginning of this: 'I'm not looking for a geographic, a demographic or a political choice. I'm looking for somebody who can serve the American people and be the closest counselor to me in the White House'."
Those reported to be on Biden's short list include Sen. Kamala Harris of California, former national security advisor Susan Rice and Rep. Karen Bass of California.
More: Biden's running mate announcement pushed back, likely will not come next week
The three have been auditioning for a spot on the ticket, appearing on news shows to burnish their credentials.
"I think what I would bring is almost 20 years of deep experience at the senior most ranks of the executive branch," Rice told "CBS This Morning" on Tuesday. "Getting things done for the American people. Wrestling with crises and dealing with the solutions we need."
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But Garcetti said having the finalists spend time with Biden is valuable, especially given the restrictions the coronavirus pandemic has placed on face-to-face encounters.
"It's a wonderful model and I think, together with that vice president, we can set up a relationship that would be one of the most important relationships in American History," Garcetti said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Biden holds final VP interviews; Harris, Rice, Bass in running
