OK, here’s the deal.
I’ve already noted that it is absurd to try handicapping who will be the Republican and Democratic vice-presidential running mates next year. It’s still absurd to try to look so far in advance.
https://highplainsblogger.com/2015/04/12/running-mate-selection-way-too-early-for-that/
That all said, one name keeps popping up on the Democratic side that’s beginning to make some sense.
Let’s assume a couple of things.
One is that Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the Democrats’ presidential nominee. Another is that Democrats are going to seek to tighten their grip on the Latino vote. Still another — and this remains a long shot — is that Texas, of all places, might be brought into play as the major party candidates fight for enough electoral votes to put one of them over the top.
Here’s a name to consider: Julian Castro.
This does originate with this blog post. Others have said Castro would be a nearly ideal choice for Clinton.
He’s currently the secretary of housing and urban development. Before that he was mayor of San Antonio. He has an identical twin, Joaquin, who serves in Congress.
Why should Clinton pick this young man? Well, he’s a handsome fellow. He speaks Spanish fluently; he also speaks English just as fluently. His story is compelling: raised by a single mother, graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Law. He’s an up-by-bootstraps kind of man.
Democrats have done well in recent election cycles with Latino voters. Republican President George W. Bush made serious inroads with that demographic group in 2000 and 2004, but it’s gone downhill ever since.
Clinton could cement the Democratic hold on Latino voters by putting Castro on the ticket.
As for Texas? Well, let’s just say that the hill for Democrats in Castro’s home state remains quite steep. The state remains heavily Republican and at this moment I cannot see how a Democratic presidential ticket — even one with a Latino in one of the spots — carries the state in 2016. Maybe in 2020.
Castro, though, could make the state competitive, forcing Republicans to invest campaign money in a place that since the 1980 election has been a shoo-in for the GOP.
Am I predicting Clinton will select Castro? Come on. Give me some credit. I’ve said it’s too early to make that call.
However, it wouldn’t surprise me.