The former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has interviewed top finalists to fill the role he once had and an announcement of his choice is still expected this week, according to several people familiar with the search.
Joe Biden has interviewed with his top picks either in person or remotely. Last week, for example, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer flew to Delaware to meet him in person. Other meetings were held over the phone like video conferencing, the people said familiar with the process given anonymity to speak honestly.
Supporters for several of the applicants, including Whitmer, former National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Representative Karen Bass and Senators Tammy Duckworth, Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren declined to comment Monday. Most of the attackers who remained in the Washington area Monday saw their day jobs.
Plans to discover Biden’s choice for running mate are in place for when he’s ready to announce. His campaign has encouraged instigators to sign up for text message alerts that they claim will be the first way people learn from the decision. Top assistants maintain that a text message is the way the world will first officially learn of the decision.
Meanwhile, campaign staff and secret service personnel were spotted Monday at checkpoints in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, next to a ballpark for underage leagues, where Biden will make formal remarks during the Democratic National Convention next week.
One senior aide said late Monday, “I have my day 0 and day 1 and beyond planned [to announce the pick] in place. Well, we just need to know who it is. “
Another senior staffer said the decision remains a closely guarded secret. “Honestly, they have done a pretty remarkable job of keeping this internally completely under wraps,” the employee said.
Both helpers were given anonymity to speak honestly about the ongoing search.
Tim Perry, Jack Turman and Zak Hudak contributed to this report.
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