Vice President Kamala Harris is nearing the end of her urgent search for a running mate, with a final decision expected within the next 24 hours and a video announcement sometime Tuesday, according to people familiar with the selection process.
While the precise nature of the launch is not final, campaign experts are pointing to President Joe Biden’s 2020 election campaign. Video Introduction Harris as a likely role model. A leak to the media about the election could disrupt those plans, they said.
The expected unveiling will follow a closely watched final weekend of deliberations. A vetting team led by former Attorney General Eric Holder briefed Harris on the final half-dozen candidates.
On Sunday, Harris met with Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at the vice president’s residence in Washington. A person familiar with the selection process said it was possible Harris had spoken virtually with other potential candidates, or would do so on Monday.
Harris’ campaign research team has also looked at Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
In 2020, Biden formally introduced Harris in a two-minute video released five days before the Democratic National Convention that included a video of the future president calling Harris to ask her to join the ticket. However, media reports broke the news the night before the video was released, which the Biden campaign acknowledged with online publications.
Harris is scheduled to make her first appearance with her new running mate at a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday, kicking off a five-day tour of seven battleground states.
Like this content? Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook newsletter.