We know Joe's VP will be a women, but how to balance the ticket? On what principle?

[Hortensis]

10. Biden wants an assistant president and friend who will

be to him what he was to Obama, able to take on a full portfolio and run with it.

The conservative Republican party still has a very hierarchical structure and ideology, rule from the top, and their VPs are still expected to attend funerals and helicopter to golf dates. Thus choosing people like little Danny Quayle who checked the boxes for advantageous home state, white skin color and male gender makes sense.

But our egalitarian Democratic Party has advanced with the times. Our are chosen for their desire and ability to do important work, not go into semi-retirement or posture at appearances in Nancy Reagan-style devotion.

And, of course, being a spare who is genuinely capable of being a good president has always been important, but with the oldest potential president in history that ability has a spotlight on it. But that means the spare should be someone who would fulfill what the electorate voted for. Used to be the VP could even be from the other party to "balance" and get support of some faction.

For all these reasons I like letting our presidential candidates choose their workmates and potential replacements, and decide on what balance will work overall.