A tweet from a Democrat sparked chaos after appearing to suggest that Vice President Kamala Harris chose Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as her running mate.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker stirred confusion on Friday with a post that read: “I’m proud to be back with so many leaders from across our region endorsing @KamalaHarris for President and @JoshShapiroP for Vice President!”
He included a video with footage from recent press conferences that ended with the message: “Josh Shapiro for vice president.”
Journalist Ernest Owens then claimed that he had heard from sources that the publication was scheduled for Monday, but that it was accidentally published early.
However, sources told the The Philadelphia Inquirer that the post was simply an endorsement and show of support for Shapiro.
“This is not an announcement of anything. It is simply a show of support from the mayor to an old friend who we know is one of the people being considered.”
Kamala Harris’s running mate selection appears to have been accidentally leaked days before the announcement
Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro is considered a front-runner to be Harris’ vice presidential nominee and has been scouted by her campaign.
Philadelphia native Cherelle Parker stirred confusion with a post Friday that read: “I’m proud to be back with so many leaders from across our region endorsing @KamalaHarris for President and @JoshShapiroP for Vice President!”
Shapiro is considered a front-runner to be Harris’ vice presidential nominee and has been vetted by her campaign.
He canceled a series of fundraising events planned in 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 told DailyMail.com.
“Her schedule has changed and she will no longer be traveling to the Hamptons this weekend,” Bonder added.
Harris is expected to announce her running mate early next week.
They will then travel together to seven transition regions.
One indication that it could be Shapiro is that the Democratic ticket’s first stop will be Philadelphia.
Harris and her running mate will then head to western Wisconsin, Detroit, Raleigh, Savannah, Phoenix and Las Vegas.
Former President Donald Trump is unlikely to win the election without tipping Pennsylvania back in his favor.
He won the Keystone State in 2016 against Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Four years later, it was won by now-President Joe Biden, born in Scranton.
Adding Shapiro to the ticket could help bolster Harris’ chances in Pennsylvania, especially in the more conservative western part of the state, where Shapiro outperformed Biden during his 2022 race.
Shapiro also won large margins in suburban and exurban areas around Philadelphia, which could be key to winning the state.