Clinton, Warren Meet In Person Amidst VP Talks

Following presumed Republican nominee Donald Trump officially announcing Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana as his running mate on July 14, Hillary Clinton met on July 15 with several of her own vice presidential prospects, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro.

As Clinton awaits her official confirmation as the party’s nominee at the Democratic National Convention, she is looking to finalize her running mate, a source close to the Clinton campaign told CNN.

Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said in a statement that Clinton “held a series of campaign-related meetings at her Washington home, including several about her vice presidential selection process,” though he did not elaborate further.

Campaign chairman John Podesta and vice chair Huma Abedin spent the day at Clinton’s home in Washington, D.C., while Warren, Hickenlooper and Castro came and went. Podesta is known to be leading Clinton’s vice presidential selection process.

Sources confirmed to CNN that Warren is on Clinton’s short list. The progressive senator, who has verbally sparred with Trump on several occasions, is popular in her party, particularly with Bernie Sanders supporters. Although she has campaigned with Clinton recently after endorsing her, she also has a long history of criticizing the former first lady for not being tough enough on big banks.

After Clinton, then first lady, reportedly persuaded the White House to change its stance on a financial reform bill in 2001, Warren blasted her for doing so in the interest of campaign contributions, according to The Washington Post.

“Hillary Clinton could not afford such a principled position,” Warren wrote of the event at the time. “Campaigns cost money, and that money wasn’t coming from families in financial trouble.”

Whether or not any past criticisms would disqualify her from the position remains to be seen.

As for Castro, he has long been seen as a favorable candidate to help win over the Latino vote, although Trump’s poor polling with Latinos suggests this might be as great of a concern. His youth and charisma could help pull in more voters, although he has considerably less experience than any of the other potential running mates.

And Clinton reportedly likes Hickenlooper on a personal level and sees the Colorado governor as someone who could help deliver Colorado, a crucial swing state.

Sources: CNN, The Washington Post / Photo credit: Hillary Clinton/Instagram