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Klobuchar Withdraws From VP Sweepstakes

Says Biden should choose woman of color

June 19, 2020

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) withdrew from the field of candidates to be Joe Biden's running mate Thursday, urging the presumptive Democratic nominee to choose a nonwhite woman.

"I truly believe, as I actually told the vice president last night when I called him, that I think this is a moment to put a woman of color on that ticket. And there are so many incredibly qualified women," Klobuchar said on MSNBC.

Nominating a woman of color would be a "hell of a way" to "heal this nation," she added.

Klobuchar was one of Biden's challengers for the moderate lane in the 2020 Democratic primary, and her best performance was a third-place finish in New Hampshire. She faced scrutiny during the primary over her record as a prosecutor, particularly her decision to prosecute a black teen for murder in 2002. Radio host Charlamagne the God said Klobuchar would depress black turnout for Biden if she were on the ticket.

That line of criticism intensified after the death of George Floyd. Klobuchar faced additional scrutiny for previously failing to prosecute the Minnesota police officer who killed Floyd. She defended herself by saying that the investigation was ongoing when she became a senator.

Klobuchar suspended her presidential campaign in March and endorsed Biden. She was reportedly on the shortlist to be Biden's running mate after he announced in a debate with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) that he would pick a woman.

Biden praised Klobuchar late Thursday night for her "grit and determination" during her presidential campaign.

The Democrats reportedly on Biden's shortlist include Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Sen. Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Sen. Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Rep. Val Demings (Fla.), Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and former national security adviser Susan Rice.