Biden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1

Former Vice President Joe Biden says he hopes to decide on a running mate by Aug. 1, about two weeks before the Democratic nominating convention in Milwaukee.

Speaking at a digital fundraiser hosted by former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Biden said his campaign’s vice presidential committee has already interviewed the contenders on his shortlist. 

“We’re in the process of deciding the basic cut — about whether or not they really want it,” Biden said. “Are they comfortable? They’ve asked a lot of questions.” 

Biden has said he’s committed to picking a woman.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), former Georgia state Rep. Stacey Abrams (D), and Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) are among those believed to be up for consideration. 

Biden said he’s looking for someone he is comfortable with, as opposed to an ideological ally. 

“I think that I need somebody who in fact is simpatico with me, both in terms of personality as well as substance,” he said. “That means they don’t have to agree with me on everything, but they have to have the same basic approach to how we handle the economy and how we handle everything.” 

“I want to make sure that … whoever I have has some qualities that I don’t possess as well as is willing to, in fact, tell me the truth but also do it in a way that is between the two of us, between her and me, so that they can, in fact, be completely candid with me because I want to have people around me that have strengths and capacities I don’t,” Biden added. 

The campaign has not said how much it raised at the virtual fundraiser on Wednesday, but a virtual fundraiser Buttigieg hosted last week raised about $1 million from about 35,000 different donors.