Reich has always been very smart and he has a pragmatic streak that is sometimes stronger than his socialist tendencies.
He is right about this and you are right about her pick. The only explanation is that she is worried about specific swing states that he might help with and her campaign is recognizing that they need to move to the middle really hard because they are losing. Her pick is viewed as a “moderate.” Trump is killing it with middle America.
I think they might be giving up on the vocal Sanders supporters thinking (much like we have with the far right and Trump) that most of the fringe will vote for her - will find out this week if they remain stuck on stupid or if Billy Jeff has dusted off his “moderate Democrat roadmap.” This won’t work either because she is not Billy Jeff - she has always been much farther left than he is. Her campaign is floundering and the DNC is weakened going into the convention.
A staunch Catholic who "personally opposes abortion", yet votes for every pro-abortion law?
An "American" VP candidate who delivers his initial address in Spanish?
What position does he hold that is any way "moderate"?