Biden Reportedly Considers Unusual 2020 Strategy

When Joe Biden announces that he's running for president, he might make it a double reveal, Axios reports: Close advisers say the former vice president is considering telling voters he'll pick popular Georgia Democrat and rising star Stacey Abrams as his running mate if he wins the Democratic nomination. There are already two schools of thought on the wisdom of that move:

• It would be smart. Pairing a black newcomer with the white establishment politician at the beginning would telegraph that the party is progressing on racial issues, writes Jonathan Chait at New York Magazine. The balance wouldn't only be racial: Biden would bring credibility and name recognition to the ticket; Abrams would bring her ability to mobilize and inspire voters. Abrams, who lost a close race for governor of Georgia last fall, has a resume that's perceived to be light on national experience. A long campaign would give her plenty of time to turn that perception around on the stump.
• It would be risky. Biden might turn off Democrats by picking a running mate before they've picked the top of the ticket, write Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns at the New York Times. Democrats could well end up preferring one of the runner-up candidates in the No. 2 spot. Adding Abrams, who's 45, might help with concerns over Biden's age and help him reach young voters. But the problem isn't just that he's 76, it's that Democrats often end up nominating national newcomers. One senator who's known Abrams since college says she "would bring a lot to the ticket." Still, Chris Coons thinks Biden should "let the primary season play out a little bit before doing something like that."

(Biden worries Trump.)