Joe Biden implored Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to accept a position to lead the Small Business Administration earlier this week, a minor position he rejected after he characterized her as “only the first step “for her during her presidency, according to people who know the discussion.
Why it’s important: Biden is committed to building a cabinet that reflects American diversity, but as the number of horizontal strips of canopies has decreased (and several constituencies continue to claim their own representatives), he has trouble threading the political needle. .
- Lance Bottoms, a rising African-American star and favorite of powerful Rep. James Clyburn, is open to serving in the cabinet during his tenure if the role is right, a person told Axios.
Background: Bottoms ’allies describe it as a family-oriented policy (she has four young children) that is weighing on the massive lifestyle change a move to Washington (DC) would require against the nature of the work she would do.
- While he was interested in small business development, running a cabinet-level agency like SBA was not right for the CEO of a major city, a position of considerable influence in the New South that Lance Bottoms cherishes. said a person familiar with his thinking. Axios.
- Biden’s transition did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Driving the news: Biden met privately face-to-face with Lance Bottoms when he visited Georgia on Tuesday to campaign for Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, the two Democratic candidates in the Jan. 5 by-elections that could turn the Senate majority upside down.
- During the Atlanta rally, during which Lance Bottoms sat on stage, Biden said, “Let’s hear it from Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, the best in the business. I had my back to the beginning of it all. agreement “.
- Their individual meeting lasted less than an hour and was initiated by Biden. It took place outside after the rally, behind the scenes.
- The two had been on stage with Ossoff, Warnock and Stacey Abrams. When the rally ended, Abrams, Warnock and Ossoff were introduced in one direction — and the president-elect and Bottoms in another.
- Although Biden tried to sell SBA to Bottoms as a springboard to greater aspirations, he characterized the role as “just the first step” for his team – but Bottoms refused, as he had previously done to his representatives. say a person.
- Although it was rumored that Lance Bottoms had also turned down the ambassador to the Bahamas, the SBA job is the only position he has been offered so far, a person close to the mayor told Axios.
- This person said Bottoms ’options for a career outside the mayoralty are open and hinted at a possible statewide race in his future, depending on how the Georgia Senate and government competitions shake up. .
See Lance Bottoms as a rising star within the Democratic Party, presiding over a big city that has been shaken by COVID and racial injustice this past year.
- Biden considered her his running mate before deciding on Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
- Lance Bottoms is also close to Clyburn, the Democrat who helped deliver South Carolina to Biden. Clyburn defended Lance Bottoms as Biden’s running mate, considering her a “tremendous” selection.
Be smart: Lance Bottoms was also seen as a good candidate to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development because of her work leading the efforts of the U.S. Conference of Mayors on census and housing policy.
- Biden chose Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), who had the strong support of the Black Caucus of Congress, for this cabinet task.