Election 2020: Protests Boost Two Unlikely Biden VP Candidates' Chances To Join Ticket

The ongoing protests against police abuse and racism in cities across the nation aren’t going unnoticed by those running for office in November. This is especially true for former Vice President Joe Biden, who appears to be taking stock of the outrage being expressed by thousands of Americans. And that has seemingly catapulted two women, originally low on Biden’s list for potential running mates, to his most likely choices.

According to Politico, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms is currently undergoing vetting by Biden’s campaign. As the protests spread beyond Minnesota, Bottoms’ response to the demonstrations in her city has gained her a great deal of national attention, having emerged as an outspoken supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement.

She’s also been a stern critic of President Donald Trump’s response to the demonstrations. Over the weekend, Bottoms slammed the president over his claim Friday that George Floyd, the black man whose death sparked the protests, was “looking down” and that it was a “great day for him.” Thre president made those comments while trumpeting the surprise fall in unemployment numbers in May.

Bottoms has also vowed to take action to hold law enforcement in Atlanta accountable, with plans to rapidly form a new oversight commission.

Another individual to rise swiftly on Biden’s running mate list has been Florida Rep. Val Demings. As both a black woman and a former police chief, Demings’ credentials could be a welcome asset to the presidential ticket.

Requests for interviews with Demings have been on the rise; in recent weeks, she has called for protesters’ demands for police reform be acknowledged. The Florida congresswoman’s rising national profile, however, began earlier this year when she was chosen to serve as a House impeachment manager during President Trump’s trial in the Senate.

Both Bottoms and Demings have been tapped by Biden’s campaign to serve as his surrogates on the trail. Bottoms, in particular, has played this role eagerly since becoming the first mayor from a major city to endorse the Democratic presidential hopeful.

Prior to the demonstrations, many had considered Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar to be the most likely vice presidential pick. After George Floyd’s death, however, those hopes appear to be wholly dashed, as activists have criticized the former presidential hopeful’s record as a prosecutor and asked that Biden not include her on his ticket.