Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper were at Hillary Clinton’s house Friday during a series of meetings as Clinton finalizes her choice for a vice president.
Warren left the house an hour after her car dropped her off at the stately home on Whitehaven Street near Dupont Circle in Northwest Washington, D.C.
Clinton is meeting with people Friday at her home to go over her running mate selection process, a source familiar with the process said. Campaign chairman John Podesta, who is heading Clinton’s VP vetting process, and campaign vice chair Huma Abedin were also in the house during the time of the meeting.
Cars were seen going in and out of the house, with occupants entering through a protected garage. Warren’s was the fourth car to arrive at the home.
Warren, a liberal stalwart known for championing issues related to economic inequality, is on Clinton’s short list of possible vice presidential picks, according to Democrats familiar with the process. The Clinton campaign is aware that Warren’s addition to the ticket could galvanize the left wing of the Democratic Party, particularly supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, her primary competitor.
But Warren has been seen as an unlikely pick to Democrats inside and outside Clinton’s campaign, in part because the two don’t know each other well and there are concerns that Warren — a darling with the left — could overshadow the top of the ticket.
Clinton and Warren campaigned together for the first time in 2016 in Cincinnati last month. The two, according to aides, also met over coffee before that campaign stop.
Hickenlooper also was inside Clinton’s home during the day of meetings.
Clinton held an event on tech investment last month in Denver and met with the popular Colorado governor over breakfast before the event, according to aides.
Clinton personally likes Hickenlooper, aides say, and he is seen as someone who could help deliver Colorado, a crucial battleground state.
Asked after the meeting how his time with Clinton was, the governor declined to comment.
Clinton spent a full day last week pouring through reams of research about potential running mates before she began a final series of interviews and appearances with her top vice presidential choices. Cheryl Mills, a longtime confidant who is taking a lead role in the vetting process, and James Hamilton, a veteran Washington lawyer who is overseeing the teams of lawyers researching the candidates, joined Clinton last Thursday as she met with teams of lawyers researching the candidates.
Clinton is leaning toward announcing her decision immediately after the Republican convention ends on July 21. But aides say she is leaving open the possibility of waiting until Democrats are already gathering for their convention in Philadelphia the following week to disclose her selection, hoping to stoke drama and build interest in the Democratic ticket.