Pressure among Dems for Biden's running mate pick

Pressure among Dems for Biden's running mate pick

[NFA] Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is facing pressure from contending groups inside his party as he prepares to interview a shortlist of women for the most important hire of his political career: his running mate.

This report produced by Jillian Kitchener.

Joe Biden is getting closer to making his most important hire yet - his running mate.

And pressure is mounting from contending groups within his own party to make - what they consider - the right choice.

The Democratic presidential candidate has vowed to pick a woman - and this week, he said he expected the background vetting process to conclude around July 24.

He would then interview each finalist before making a decision, expected by early August.

The VP candidate is of heightened importance this year… with Democrats agonizing over which woman would give Biden the biggest boost in the Nov.

3 election to defeat President Donald Trump.

Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said one reason for all the attention on Biden’s pick is the fact that Biden is 77 years old.

Senator Kamala Harris was early as a favorite after dropping her presidential bid, particularly among top fundraisers, who have Biden's ear and tend to be more centrist.

But some advisers harbor doubts about whether Harris' ambition for higher office might upstage Biden's message.

Perhaps the biggest question facing Biden is whether he’ll select a Black woman following national protests over racial injustice.

Senator Elizabeth Warren is the only white candidate on the shortlist, which includes five Black women as well as Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is Latina, and Senator Tammy Duckworth, who is an Asian American.