Cory Booker

The New Jersey Senator, 46, first gained renown as a Newark mayor who rescued people from burning buildings and shoveled sidewalks during snowstorms. Now he’s a rising Democratic star with vice-presidential buzz. His new memoir, United, charts his journey into politics and calls for “finding common ground” in American government.

You write that your book is meant to inspire action. Who has inspired you?

Harriet Tubman. Her statue sat on my desk almost my entire time in public office. She realized that she wasn’t free until everyone was free.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie caught some flak for downplaying the damage of the recent snowstorm in the state. Why are storms so politically perilous?

All the political leaders I work with in New Jersey understand that houses are destroyed, lives are upended, and it is incredibly difficult. I try never to play into the politics of it. I have no barbs to throw, especially when we’re still cleaning up.

You two have something of a political bromance. How do you think he’s doing in the presidential campaign? I think the bromance aspect gets a lot more attention and the real substantive and often fierce disagreements don’t. He and I disagree on policy issues across the board. I’ve been frustrated by him, angered by steps he’s taken, from cutting Planned Parenthood or reducing the earned-income tax credit all the way to [pig] gestation crates. I’ve never been shy about telling people about our disagreements, but I also understand that he is the duly twice-elected governor of our state. People elected us to find ways to work together.

Why are you supporting Hillary Clinton?

I’m actually a fan of all three Democrats in the race. But when it comes to Hillary Clinton, it wasn’t even a question that she is profoundly qualified to lead our country during perilous times, as well as deeply adroit in policy.

Would you accept the VP slot if it were offered?

It is something I just refuse to entertain because I think it’s fruitless to focus on anything but the primaries right now.

–KATIE REILLY