intra vires
Glory to Michigan
If Biden wins the nomination, then he should select Gov. Whitmer as his running mate. She would solidify him in MI and possibly the greater Midwest (PA, WI). Mark Kelly will undoubtedly outperform whoever the nominee is so he could give them a boost in AZ.
I'm just going off her history, Shahid Buttar was in my sig when they announced PayGo.
To me, Mark Pocan is the obvious choice if you could get a progressive Speaker; however, to really answer my own question, I wouldn't worry about the Speakership. The Freedom Caucus/Tea Party never obtained it, but they still had plenty to say when Boehner and Ryan were in that position. That's because they had the votes to obstruct and a base to primary (plus win the general election) with. It's an easier position to achieve and maintain, so I think that's the better play.
Being Speaker isn't worth the trouble, it's a thankless job where you have the entire Democratic Caucus to answer to and there's a lot of variance in the membership.
That goes without saying not to take Pols at face value. You have a lot more confidence in her than I do.
But to answer your question there isn’t one obvious choice. I know some progressives were pushing Barbara Lee and i’m Good with that. Her only downside is that she is also in her 70s. We will need to elect more progressive to get the type leadership I would want to see.
I'm just going off her history, Shahid Buttar was in my sig when they announced PayGo.

To me, Mark Pocan is the obvious choice if you could get a progressive Speaker; however, to really answer my own question, I wouldn't worry about the Speakership. The Freedom Caucus/Tea Party never obtained it, but they still had plenty to say when Boehner and Ryan were in that position. That's because they had the votes to obstruct and a base to primary (plus win the general election) with. It's an easier position to achieve and maintain, so I think that's the better play.
Being Speaker isn't worth the trouble, it's a thankless job where you have the entire Democratic Caucus to answer to and there's a lot of variance in the membership.