She wanted as much Peronist unity as possible - and is realistic enough to know that she's not the best person to bring that about.
There were also matters of international relations to consider: Kirchner knows that her very last name elicits a Pavlovian-like hostility from the Miami exiles running Trump's Western Hemisphere desk at the State Department.
'Beto' Fernández, on the other hand, is known for his center/center-left views - and has already shown to have very good political instincts besides.
He had advised Cristina Kirchner against ALL three of her major policy errors: the proposed tax hike on farm exports in 2008, the anti-trust dispute with Clarín, and the 2012 currency controls.
He also enjoys a good rapport with both business and labor, and both centrists and leftists - but has been very critical of Macri, and in fact is about to publish a book detailing Macri's policy of weaponizing the judiciary against opponents.
Ironically, Beto had been among the best-known advocates for having her run for office.
After not having spoken for several years, the two have became close friends over the last 18 months - and according to Kirchner herself, it was Beto who encouraged her to write her memoir, Sinceramente.
Incidentally, did I tell you Macri's napkin judge, Bonadío, had a lien placed on the royalties - which Cristina was donating to the Children's Hospital of La Plata (her favorite charity). The matter's still in limbo - like Argentina itself.
But getting back to Beto, they met today over coffee after his early morning class (he teaches at the Univ. of Buenos Aires Law School) to discuss her possible candidacy. All candidates have a month to declare, so time's ticking.
"You're a uniter and I'm a divider," she told him. "And what the country needs right now, is unity."
"I'll do it," he eventually told her. "But only if you're on the ticket. You have the votes."
And that, reportedly, was how it happened. All the Best to them; should they win, Macri's leaving them quite a challenging situation.
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