CBS This Morning is once again the training ground for Joe Biden’s potential running mates. Co-host Gayle King promoted Stacey Abrams on Wednesday, speculating on her chances. Given the electoral chaos in Georgia, King gushed at having such a guest: “Boy, oh boy, Stacey, did timing seem to work in our favor when we booked you to talk about your book.”
Regarding her vice presidential chances, King gossiped, “You know it's widely reported you're on the short list for Joe Biden's VP. We talked about it last time you were here. Clearly you're very interested. Have you had recent conversations?”
King wondered, “Have you had conversations with Team Biden?” Now, of course, the 2018 gubernatorial candidate in Georgia wasn’t going to answer that. Instead, Abrams promoted her book. That didn’t stop King from praising:
You can focus on your book and other things. We know you're a good multitasker, Stacey Abrams. We thank you. I have a feeling this won’t be the last conversation we will have... with you before this election in November.
King’s best friend is Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey is a 60 Minutes contributor who was forced to, temporarily, step away from CBS because of her campaigning for Abrams in 2018.
In an April appearance, King touted the Democrat’s “great answer” in avoiding talking about the VP spot. The co-host parroted what she would say in June: “Stacey Abrams I hope this is not our last conversation. Something tells me it isn't.”
On Monday, This Morning co-host Tony Dokoupil cheered Biden VP hopeful Val Deming and her non-answer about being on the ticket, saying, “very well done.”
A transcript of the questions from the segment is below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS This Morning
6/10/2020
8:17:24 to 8:22:55 a.m. EasternGAYLE KING: Georgia is facing harsh criticism today after voters say they encountered major issues casting ballots in yesterday's primary. Lines in some areas stretched for hours amid reports of voting machine problems and ballots that just were not delivered. In a statement, voting rights group Fair Fight blamed, quote, “incompetence and malfeasance at the state level." Fair Fight founder, that’s Stacey Abrams, is author of the new book, it’s called Our Time Is Now: Power, Purpose and the Fight for a Fair America. Abrams, as you know, was also the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor in Georgia. She joins us now from Atlanta. Boy, oh boy, Stacey, did timing seem to work in our favor when we booked you to talk about your book. But now we have to start with what happened in Georgia yesterday. The headline in your paper says, "Major meltdown." And I’m wondering as you look at this, are you thinking I know this song, I know all the words? What do you think when you look at what happened yesterday?
(....)
KING: That's what I find so interesting, that it was both Democrats and Republicans who were complaining. Some people waited in line for five hours. I saw a lady sitting in the rain with her child under an umbrella. But now the Democrats and Republicans are pointing fingers at each other. Who's to blame and why does it keep happening?
(....)
KING: But you know, Stacey, even you had a problem. I was reading that you tried to vote absentee, and that didn't work out for you because clearly there's a problem with the absentee ballot. And now we're five month as works from an election. What was the issue and what can be done in five months?
(....)
KING: Can this be fixed?
STACEY ABRAMS: Absolutely.
KING: Can this be fixed before November?
(....)
KING: Stacey, I've got less than 30 second. You know it's widely reported you're on the short list for Joe Biden's VP. We talked about it last time you were here. Clearly you're very interested. Have you had recent conversations? So much has changed since the last time you were here? Have you had conversations with Team Biden?
ABRAMS: I've been focused on promoting my book Our Time Is Now because this is a moment to have a discussion about the country we want next. That can only happen if we understand what voter suppression looks like and fight for a fair America across the state, the country.
KING: Okay. You can focus on your book and other things. We know you're a good multitasker, Stacey Abrams. We thank you. I have a feeling this won’t be the last conversation we will have for you – with you before this election in November. Thank you so much.
