- Harris’ team met with two prospects on her vice presidential short list
- Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro canceled weekend fundraising events
Vice President Kamala Harris’ search for a running mate is moving into high gear as it was revealed that her team has met with a couple of top candidates from her short list and an announcement will be made in just a few days.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly reportedly met with members of Harris’ search team Thursday, after both men had been on Harris’ short list for days.
Each offers potential assets for the candidate, who is fighting off GOP attacks on left-wing positions dating back to her time as California attorney general and her ill-fated 2020 campaign for president.
Harris’ campaign has announced a packed week of campaign appearances starting Tuesday in Philadelphia, which would put her in Shapiro’s turf in a state that is crucial to the Democratic “blue wall.”
Notably, Shapiro has demonstrated his ability to win at the state level and outperform Joe Biden in Western Pennsylvania. In his 2022 victory, he earned wide margins in suburban and suburban areas around Philadelphia, beating Republican Doug Mastriano by 15 points at the state level.
There was another potential clue Thursday when Shapiro abruptly canceled a planned campaign fundraising trip to the Hamptons this weekend.
His team offered no hint that the cancellation had anything to do with the vice president selection process.
“The governor’s trip was planned several weeks ago and included several fundraisers for his own campaign committee,” spokesman Manuel Bonder said. he told DailyMail.com.
“Her schedule has changed and she will no longer be traveling to the Hamptons this weekend,” Bonder added.
Political The pair of meetings did not necessarily mean the two candidates had moved ahead of others on Harris’ short list, she said. (Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is another.)
Bloomberg reported that Harris did not participate in the meetings. She has spent time with each of the potential running mates during her travels around the country, including several visits to Pennsylvania.
Open weekend: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro met with Kamala Harris’ team and fulfilled previous commitments to raise campaign funds in the Hamptons
Sky high: Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly has been to space four times and could help Harris in the Sun Belt
Kelly, meanwhile, brings his own brand of personal politics: He has been hailed as a national hero for his military service and time as an astronaut, as well as having border credentials that will help with one of Harris’ biggest vulnerabilities.
Each has the ability to help Harris in a key state that was part of Biden’s winning coalition.
Of the two, Pennsylvania is considered crucial and has 19 electoral votes.
Arizona has 11 electoral votes. The state also leans more Republican. Only two Democrats have won it since 1952: Bill Clinton and Biden. Donald Trump’s lead there is about 4 points, after Harris took the lead in a Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll.
(Trump has a 3-point lead in Pennsylvania according to the RealClearPolitics average.)