Biden VP announcement extends into August, as top hopefuls face more scrutiny

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has extended his choice for vice president, reportedly by as much as two weeks, after announcing plans to pick a running mate by Aug. 1, then the first week of this month. 

Even an announcement this week would mean Biden would have a running mate just two weeks before the Democratic National Convention starting August 17.   

Biden said in May that he ”hoped” to have a pick by Aug. 1 and said last week that he’d decide in the first week of the month.

CNBC also reports that Biden likely won’t make an announcement before the week of Aug. 10, base on three people who spoke on condition of anonymity

Biden reportedly has a short list on which California Sen. Kamala Harris, a 2020 Democratic presidential primary challenger against Biden, and former national security adviser Susan Rice are purportedly among the top picks.

The delay has been, in part, the result of attacks on the potential picks, according to The Washington Post.

"It's been relentless. It's been unfortunate. But I must say it's been predictable," said Donna Brazile, a former interim chair of the Democratic National Committee. "It's extremely disappointing, because many of these attacks … are being made by Democratic men who should know better."

Former Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., a member of Biden's vice-presidential vetting team, reportedly told donors that Harris "had no remorse" for her attacks on Biden while on the debate stage, according to a Politico story.

In addition, the conservative-leaning Daily Caller newspaper reported on a 2010 speech by California Democratic Sen. Karen Bass, another possible vice presidential candidate, about a 2010 speech in which she seemed to praise the controversial Scientology group. 

She’s also faced scrutiny about her comments about former Cuba leader Fidel Castro that some has interpreted as sympathetic.