Who Should Bernie Pick for VP?

I'd like to see and I believe it is essential Bernie Sanders select a female vice presidential running mate. An early choice could swing the election. It might be early but it would be ideal if he announced his running mate at the debate in Brooklyn, tomorrow night.

In general a good VP choice brings a number of strengths to a campaign:

Our favorites in alphabetical order are:

1. Rep. Keith Ellison, Minnesota was the second member of Congress to endorse Bernie. He's a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the first Muslim American elected to Congress, and a champion for all of our legislation. When we offered him a "Healthcare Not Warfare" sticker, he asked if we meant Single Payer healthcare before taking it. When told it was indeed Single Payer, he said, "Good! Because anything else is just bull s--t!" We love that combination of plain talk and smart thinking in Bernie and in Keith. Sanders-Ellison, 2016. No nonsense, just results!

2. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii resigned her DNC leadership position in February 2016 so she could endorse Bernie. An active duty major in the Army National Guard who served two tours of duty in the Middle East, Tulsi displays courageous decision-making we need for our political revolution. She sponsored legislation barring U.S. action to commit regime change in Syria, to avoid another Middle East quagmire. Tulsi knows all too well the real costs of war; that "boots on the ground" don't suffer casualties--American families do. She turned 35 yesterday, making her constitutionally eligible to be Vice President. Sanders-Gabbard, 2016. It's the winning ticket.

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3. Rep. Raul Grijalva, Arizona was the first Congress person to endorse Bernie. He's a kind, open man who co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus with intelligence and courage. He's helped PDA whenever we've asked, and graciously appreciates our support for his important legislation. He agreed to sponsor the resolution PDA and our allies drafted, the most ambitious Climate Emergency legislation ever. He supports all of our agenda items. We appreciate Raul's friendliness, complete lack of pretense, and other Bernie-like qualities. Sanders-Grijalva, 2016. S-, se puede! (Yes, we can!)

These three Congress members were the first to endorse Bernie, and all have demonstrated their commitment to progressive values. We discussed this, and determined that they deserve to be featured choices, but we invite you to write in any choice you'd prefer here.

We hope you'll join us in participating in this straw poll, and please share it with your friends!

Napolitano is probably more conservative, but who isn't? As someone who's been deep inside the Obama administration she would make Obama insiders feel safer, and probably many democrats feel safer. I think her name should at least be on the table for consideration.

A number of other qualified female Democratic governors would probably be ruled out because they've endorsed HIllary. But maybe not. Here are four women who are qualified (links are to their Wikipedia pages.)

Jennifer Granholm gov michigan was born in Canada. I think that rules her out.

Beverly Perdue First woman (and only to date) to serve as Governor of North Carolina.

Christine Gregoire Governor of Washington State. Prior to her election to the Governorship, she was Washington's first female attorney general.

Kathleen Sebelius Resigned to become Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Obama Administration.