The countdown is on for Vice President Kamala Harris to select a running mate for the presidential race.
An announcement is anticipated to be made on Monday, with Tuesday being the latest expected timeline.
Three potential vice presidential candidates have emerged as finalists for Harris: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Harris conducted interviews with each of them over the weekend.
Shapiro, hailing from the swing state with the highest number of electoral votes, could offer a favorable advantage for Harris. Despite being relatively new to office since last year, Shapiro is a popular figure after winning the 2022 gubernatorial election in Pennsylvania by a significant margin.
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Meanwhile, Kelly, a former astronaut, has served as a Democratic senator in Arizona since 2020. He has strong military ties due to his past service in the U.S. Navy as a combat pilot and is married to former Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
Walz, another potential candidate, boasts deep Midwestern roots and a solid political background. He assumed office as governor of Minnesota in 2019 and successfully navigated challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of George Floyd’s tragic death.
In less than 24 hours, Harris will commence her tour of crucial battleground states, accompanied by her selected running mate.
By Monday night, Harris is poised to officially become the Democratic presidential nominee after securing the votes of over 2,300 Democratic delegates, surpassing the required threshold.
Harris is scheduled to formally accept the nomination once the virtual voting period concludes at 6 p.m. on Monday.
