Fact check: Why was Kamala chosen for vice president?

1. Summary of the results

The question appears to conflate two different vice presidential selections. The analyses reveal that Kamala Harris was chosen as Joe Biden's running mate in 2020, not the other way around. Biden selected Harris as his vice presidential candidate, making her a historic pick as the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent on a major party's presidential ticket ^[1].

The selection was based on several key factors:

• Harris was considered a "safe" pick - a known quantity who had already been vetted during her own Democratic presidential campaign and was seen as disciplined ^[1]
• Her relative youth, political experience, and law enforcement background were viewed as assets that could help combat charges of the Democratic ticket being too liberal ^[2]
• Her background as a prosecutor was seen as advantageous for future debates and political battles ^[3]
• The selection was expected to bring energy to the ticket, particularly among Black voters, and potentially influence voter turnout ^[2]

The analyses also reference Harris's own 2024 vice presidential selection process, where she chose Tim Walz as her running mate, considering approximately a dozen candidates before settling on Walz due to their personal chemistry and his governing record in Minnesota ^{[4] [5] [6]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about the timeline and actual selection process. The analyses reveal that:

• Harris had a failed 2020 presidential campaign before being selected as Biden's running mate, which demonstrates that her selection wasn't based on primary election success ^[3]
• The selection process involved strategic political calculations rather than purely merit-based considerations, including the need to balance the ticket demographically and ideologically ^[2]
• Harris was seen as someone who would inherit the working parts of Biden's campaign infrastructure, suggesting practical campaign considerations influenced the decision ^[3]
• The choice represented Biden's vision for the future of the country and made a statement about American identity, indicating symbolic and aspirational motivations beyond pure political strategy ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains a fundamental factual error by implying that Kamala Harris was "chosen for vice president" in a way that suggests she was the one doing the choosing, when the analyses clearly show that Joe Biden chose Harris as his running mate in 2020 ^[1]. This reversal of roles could mislead readers about the actual power dynamics and selection process in American presidential campaigns.

The question's phrasing also lacks temporal specificity, which could confuse readers about whether it refers to the 2020 Biden-Harris ticket formation or Harris's own 2024 vice presidential selection process when she chose Tim Walz ^{[4] [6]}.