After Biden chooses Kamala Harris as VP pick, will Trump replace Mike Pence with 'popcorn woman' Nikki Haley?
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is keeping the election game strong and unpredictable. The 77-year-old politician picked Senator Kamala Harris of California, who was his former Democratic primary opponent, as his running mate on August 11. This announcement is historical since Kamala Harris will be the first woman of color to be nominated for vice president by a major party.
Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, described Harris as “one of the country’s finest public servants” in a tweet announcing his decision on Tuesday, August 11. He tweeted, “I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked @KamalaHarris — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate.”
I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked @KamalaHarris — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 11, 2020
Harris who has been serving as the United States Senator from California since 2017, was formerly determined to center her own presidential bid by giving stiff competition to Trump. She is the first Indian American who has been serving in the US Senate but gained prominence due to her interrogating of Trump nominees during Senate hearings which include former Attorney General Jeff Sessions to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Biden’s VP pick is making a lot of noise on the Internet but the attention soon shifted to people speculating who Trump would be choosing as his running mate. The nearest guess points to the US Ambassador to United Nations Nikki Haley who is of Indian American descent. Haley is an influential figure given her stature as an ambassador where she has affirmed the US’s willingness to deal with global issues with military force like in the 2017 North Korea crisis but eventually she stepped down from her role in 2018. The former South Carolina governor was also listed among Time’s 100 most influential personalities of the world in 2016. Now since the two women - Kamala and Nikki are of Indian American origin and are strong contenders in US politics, people are comparing both as running mates and the Internet has ammo. A Twitter post by Haley on August 10 has tickled the Internet downplaying her serious image. Haley was ridiculed online after she tweeted a complaint about the Popcorn Factory missing delivery dates for her orders.
“Ok @PopcornFactory two messed up birthday orders missed delivery dates with no explanation. First time I gave you the benefit of the doubt. The second one tells me not to buy from you again. #DisappointedNephew,” she had tweeted in displeasure.
Ok @PopcornFactory two messed up birthday orders missed delivery dates with no explanation. First time I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Second one tells me not to buy from you again. #DisappointedNephew
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) August 10, 2020
This tweet of hers has led social media into a frenzy and the Internet is saying that how can she be approached for a respectable post like that of VP given she is too occupied with popcorns. “Someone needs to tell Haley she will get her popcorn as soon as Joe and Kamala take over,” tweeted one.
Someone needs to tell Haley she will get her popcorn as soon as Joe and Kamala take over.
— Abbie threedogsrunning (@3dogsrunning) August 11, 2020
“Kamala Harris was just named to a presidential ticket and Nikki Haley can’t even get her popcorn. Tough week for Haley,” one wrote.
Kamala Harris was just named to a presidential ticket and Nikki Haley can’t even get her popcorn.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) August 11, 2020
Tough week for Haley.
'Haley as VP' is just a guess and the Internet is unsure if Trump will dump Mike Pence for Haley given that Pence had formerly won the VP nomination in 2016 at Republican National Convention where he and Trump defeated Democrats. Pence too is a prospective candidate and close aide of Trump who was appointed as the chairman of the White House Coronavirus Task Force which is aimed to provide an adequate response to the pandemic in 2020. After Pence received the news of Harris being selected by Biden, he said in an event in Arizona on August 10 that he will be looking forward to debating with her in October in Utah.
“As you all know, Joe Biden and the Democratic Party have been overtaken by the radical left. So given their promises of higher taxes, open borders, socialized medicine, and abortion on demand, it's no surprise that he chose Senator Harris,” Pence said reportedly.“So my message to the Democratic nominee for vice president: Congratulations. I'll see you in Salt Lake City,” Pence told the crowd of Trump supporters. It is still unsure if current VP Pence will be Trump's running mate given he has spoken at a number of Trump's campaign rallies and his name appears in the campaign logo too. This is why people are still speculating whom Trump will actually select for VP and if Haley could replace Pence just to turn the tides.
“Hooray for Biden/Harris. I can visualize Trump and his minions mulling over a steaming pot of attacks and nefarious plans taking back the momentum. Will Trump dump Pence for the Popcorn woman. Will Trump have a complete meltdown on camera. Wait and see. It will be a biggie!”
Hooray for Biden/Harris. I can visualize Trump and his minions mulling over a steaming pot of attacks and nefarious plans taking back the momentum. Will Trump dump Pence for the Popcorn woman. Will Trump have a complete meltdown on camera. Wait and see. It will be a biggie!
— Janet (@JehnetJeh) August 11, 2020
People are in support of Pence and call him as a very probable candidate against Haley. "If Mike Pence had challenged Trump in the primary and called him out in a debate, Trump would have held a grudge the size of his own ass. That Biden could choose Kamala Harris for VP after their debate dust-up speaks to Biden’s character and to our party’s unity in 2020."
If Mike Pence had challenged Trump in the primary and called him out in a debate, Trump would have held a grudge the size of his own ass. That Biden could choose Kamala Harris for VP after their debate dust-up speaks to Biden’s character and to our party’s unity in 2020.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) August 12, 2020
Presenter at Al Jazeera, Mehdi Hasan tweeted jokingly about what will happen if both Nikki and Kamala face one another as contenders given their roots. “If Trump responds to the Kamala Harris pick by dumping Pence and replacing him with Nikki Haley that'll mean there'll be two women of South Asian heritage on the tickets and then, @AnandWrites, all of us South Asians are really screwed at family dinners”.
If Trump responds to the Kamala Harris pick by dumping Pence and replacing him with Nikki Haley that'll mean there'll be two women of South Asian heritage on the tickets and then, @AnandWrites, all of us South Asians are really screwed at family dinners. https://t.co/u3BOFh8fdq
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) August 11, 2020