WASHINGTON – The dates are set. Locations are chosen. The only thing missing from this week’s campaign featuring Vice President Kamala Harris and her 2024 running mate is the running mate’s name.
After spending a weekend interviewing the finalists, Harris must decide who will be her wingman before the two leave on Tuesday for a tour of key swing states, where they will present the new Democratic ticket to voters and highlight the stakes. in the election.
Everything about his campaign was accelerated out of necessity. She has been a candidate for just over two weeks, since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race after a dismal debate performance and growing calls within the Democratic Party for him to step aside. The chairman of the Democratic National Committee said Friday that Harris has already secured enough votes to become the party’s nominee and will accept the nomination Monday night when voting ends.
And about 8 in 10 Democrats say they would be somewhat or very pleased if Harris became the Democratic nominee for president, according to a poll by Associated Press-NORC Public Affairs Research Centerwhich was carried out after Biden dropped out of the race.
Harris had to give a condensed assessment of her potential running mates as the party convention approached. This means there isn’t much time left for advocates for and against the different choices to strike their final blows.
Harris was focusing on three potential running mates whom she interviewed on Sunday in Washington. They were the governor of Pennsylvania. Josh ShapiroSenator from Arizona. Marco Kelly and governor of Minnesota. Tim Walz, according to a person familiar with the process who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations. Three other men were in the mix: the governor of Illinois. JB PritzkerGovernor of Kentucky. Andy Beshear and Secretary of Transport Pete Buttigieg.
Some congressional Democrats have promoted Kelly, a former Navy pilot and astronaut whose state shares more than 370 miles or 600 kilometers of border with Mexico. They say his pick could help counter Trump’s arguments that the Biden-Harris administration’s immigration policies are too relaxed.
Shapiro also has prominent supporters, including Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. She caused controversy when she posted a video on Friday depicting several Philadelphia-area officials and Democrats promoting Harris but also featuring Shapiro as her running mate. A person familiar with the mayor’s thinking said she had no inside knowledge of Harris’ intentions.
When asked about the veepstakes on Monday, Shapiro said he had no information.
“I ain’t got nothing for you, man,” he told an Associated Press reporter upon arriving in the Pennsylvania state capital of Harrisburg.
Both Kelly and Shapiro saw their detractors become more vocal as Harris moved closer to a decision.
Walz is in his second term as governor of Minnesota. He has made his state a bastion of liberal politics and, this year, one of the few states to protect the fans buy tickets online for Taylor Swift concerts and other live events. He comes from rural America and in his first run for Congress, Walz defeated a Republican candidate.
Harris and her running mate – whoever that may be – will launch an aggressive campaign on Tuesday, seven states battlefield tour which begins in Philadelphia on Tuesday and passes through Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. His first rallies attracted thousands of enthusiastic people. Campaign officials say each stop will be packed with local election officials, religious leaders, union members and more in an effort to showcase the diversity of their coalition. Some Republicans will also appear with her, according to the campaign.
The campaign launched “Republicans for Harris” this week. The program will be a “campaign within a campaign,” according to Harris’ team, using well-known Republicans to activate their networks, with a special emphasis on primary voters who supported former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.
Campaign officials are aware that the momentum may be fleeting and are working to capitalize on the energy now while managing expectations by continuing to emphasize that the race with the Republican nominee donald trump It is tight. But the strong rollout allowed the Harris campaign to put back into play a number of states they feared were out of reach when Biden remained in charge. top of ticket.
Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, told Fox News on Sunday that Harris’ selection doesn’t matter to him. “Whoever she chooses, the problem will be Kamala Harris’ record and Kamala Harris’ policies,” he said, adding “that will not be good for the country.”
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Associated Press writer Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.
