Is Warren Becoming Clinton’s Running Mate a Ploy in the ‘Game of Thrones’?

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Donald Trump’s “political incorrectness” and schemes are constantly leaving Hillary Clinton’s team off guard and struggling to respond. Elizabeth Warren’s rise will be a benefit during these difficult times.

A few days ago, the popular American TV series “Game of Thrones” closed their sixth season with a big finale. The women of the series were the focus of this final episode in a collective blowout: Cersei took the Iron Throne, the Mother of Dragons set off for Westeros, the Sand Snakes and the Queen of Thorns form an alliance, and Arya successfully avenges her mother and brother. As the roles of women females reach a pinnacle, people are surprised to find the Clinton/Warren duo hiding behind the curtain.

Almost immediately after the finale of “Game of Thrones” dropped its curtain, American politics welcomed Warren and Clinton on stage to perform the real game of thrones. On June 27, for the first time Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren took the stage as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate alongside Hillary Clinton at the Ohio rally. Ten days ago, Warren clearly declared her desire to become Clinton’s running mate. Thus, the American general election now has a pair of strong women ready to play the part.

As far as Clinton is concerned, it can be said that choosing Warren as her vice presidential candidate will become a huge advantage, as she attracts more progressive voters and to some degree relieves some of the pressure from Bernie Sander’s persistence. A recent poll shows that of Sanders’ 12 million voters from the primary, only 55 percent of them would vote for Clinton. If Clinton cannot create a more progressive image for herself, those voters unwilling to change their vote may never do so and some may even go as far as to vote for Trump. With Warren at her side, the situation is looking much more promising, on account of Warren not having any less of a reputation than Sanders from Democratic Party lower and middle-class supporters.

Warren is a famous law professor, having received tenure at age 31 even though for a long time she considered herself a spokesman for students and middle and lower-class citizens. Early on, Warren saw an institutional problem in America and called upon the U.S. government to assume more responsibility for redistribution of wealth by imposing high taxes on high-income families, while increasing pensions and medical benefits for minorities. In recent years her accomplishments as a senator are few, but her insight is deep. Although she has had very little effect, Warren is a huge supporter of labor unions, environmental protection groups, minority groups, and feminist protests, as well as the correction of federal government’s policies and keeping the Democratic Party away from large corporations. Donald Trump’s “political incorrectness” and schemes are constantly leaving Hillary Clinton’s team off guard and struggling to respond. Elizabeth Warren’s rise will be a benefit during these difficult times.

The presence of the vice president in the U.S. general election is more formal than practical. The biggest obstacle with Warren becoming Hillary’s running mate is her clear ideology and the strong will of the people. Hillary wants a vice president who will do her job well in her absence but who will in no way want to lead her by the nose.

As far as the process of subduing Sanders is concerned, Hillary has made no small concession. She’s allowed her committee appointees to block progressive provisions. If she continues to do the same things with Warren, the entire Democratic Party will shift to the “left side” and run away. Not only will party elites and large bankrollers oppose her, a huge number of middle-class voters will as well. Nevertheless, Hillary wants to keep Trump from carving up the cake. Perhaps this is why Hillary has been brilliantly seeking Warren for an “audition,” but hasn’t been straightforward in order to create a partnership. How effective this partnership is, however, is yet to be seen.

Presently, the U.S. 2016 general election is already headed towards a critical point of decisions to be made within each party. It is important for each candidate to look for a good running mate, maintain good relationships within their own parties, and design a good plan for this last stage. Whether referring to Clinton or Trump, to date both have yet to sort out their own “backyards.” Clinton has suffered a radical and bitter rebellion, and Trump has had an indeterminate grasp on the “old men” conservative party. This election is situated among societal division and unrest in addition to plenty of other variables. In any case, with Warren mixed into the situation, these two women have come together to unveil a new season of the U.S. general election unlike any other in the past. This stage of “Game of Thrones” is destined to be filled with aspects worth paying attention to.

Zehua Shi is Associate Professor, School of International Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University