For months now, presumptive Democratic candidate for the presidency, Joe Biden, has been ‘hiding’; he is working out of the basement of his home in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

And he has good reason to ‘hide’.

At his age (he is 77 years old), he has to watch out for the Coronavirus.

But it is not only the pandemic that forces him to hide. It is also a smart strategy. The less he talks, the less he can be attacked by his opponent, President Trump.

He is leaving the field of action open for Trump, knowing that every time Trump says something, it hurts his chances for re-election.

But this month, Biden’s isolation comes to an end. The Democratic National Convention begins on August 17 and the party will formally announce its candidate.

Biden has also promised that within a week or so he will announce his pick for his vice presidential running mate. History has taught us that this decision is a critical one. The choice of Sarah Palin did a lot of damage to the candidacy of John McCain. On the other hand, Mike Pence strengthened Trump's candidacy.

Biden's choice will also undoubtedly play a key role in his candidacy for the presidency.

Biden is under a lot of pressure to choose a woman – some say, a Black woman.

To some extent, the historical moment that we are all living through demands it. His candidacy would have been sunk if African Americans had not voted for him in the South Carolina primary.

He cannot ignore that.

Nor can he ignore the dynamics of civil rights issues following the murder of George Floyd.

Indeed, it is time for a woman – whether or not she is Black.

There are several good candidates who are qualified for the position.

However, based on (1) his age – he will be the oldest president ever elected – and (2) on the exceptional problems the country is facing, I think the most important thing for him to do is to choose the right candidate – the one with the best qualifications, regardless of color.

What will count the most for the general population of the country and what will take the opportunity of unbridled attacks away from Trump will be for Biden to select the most appropriate candidate, the one who seems best qualified to govern the country effectively in the event something happens to Biden.

Additionally, the choice is also very important because the current vice-presidential candidate may be the next president in four years.

Thus far, Trump has failed to hit the target in his attacks on Biden.

His claims about Biden allowing chaos to reign in the country's cities and that crime would rise if Biden is elected have not caught on because they do not rely on credible data.

But if Biden gives Trump an opportunity by choosing a poor vice presidential candidate – someone who could potentially become a weak president in case he or she is forced to take over the reins of the country – then it will be a different case.

And then Biden’s great lead, over 10% in every poll, is likely to disappear.