US senator from Wisconsin dodges VP pick question

US Senator Tammy Baldwin sidestepped questions Wednesday about her chances to be presumptive presidential nominee Joe Biden's running mate.

"I'm looking forward to the announcement next week," she said. "I won't have to tiptoe around any more questions any more about what's happening."

Baldwin, the Senate's first openly gay member, has told Biden that her victory should serve as a model for how his campaign can win the swing state.

She also declined to say whether she shared concerns raised by other Democrats about her Republican colleague from Wisconsin possibly assisting a Russian disinformation campaign.

"I can't comment specifically on that issue, but I can say that I have every reason to believe that we continue to experience foreign interference with our elections, just as we did in 2016," Baldwin said.

The Democrat said that Milwaukee should be considered for a future Democratic National Convention given that the one starting in less than three weeks will be a vastly scaled back version of what was originally planned.

Tens of thousands of Democrats were expected to converge in Wisconsin for the national convention where Biden, the presumptive nominee, was to be officially nominated.

But because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the convention was delayed until Aug. 17 and scaled back to a mostly virtual event with about 300 people in attendance in Milwaukee.

"I do believe (Democratic organizers) and the Biden campaign have put the health and safety of all participants front and center and first and foremost," Baldwin said.

She added she still plans to attend in person and welcome attendees to Wisconsin. Delegates from other states have been told to stay away because of concerns about spreading the virus.

Attendees also will be required to follow a long list of guidelines, including wearing masks at all times.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms. But it can cause severe symptoms in and be fatal for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.