Is Warren the Inevitable Democratic VP Candidate?

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Both Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have good reason to put Senator Elizabeth Warren on the ticket-whoever wins the presidential nomination.

If Sanders wins his underdog campaign, he will have denied the nomination to the most prominent and admired woman in American politics. He will be under intense pressure to name a woman as his running mate.

What about ideological ticket-balancing? Turning to a centrist for vice president would make no sense-it would deny who Sanders is and his entire reason for running. There are other plausible women, but naming Warren would redouble the campaign's grassroots energy. You want a progressive ticket? Sanders could double down.

And if Hillary Clinton is the nominee, she will desperately need someone to win the excitement of the Sanders base. How about Sanders himself? Probably not. But Warren is a more convincing version of Sanders than Sanders.

Two women on the ticket? Well, for most of our history, presidential tickets have been two men.

Think of the mobilizing potential. Doubtless, Hillary will.

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–David Dayen, Executive Editor