Vice President Kamala Harris is in the process of interviewing a half-dozen potential running mates this weekend in preparation for a formal announcement and a battleground tour with her new No. 2 next week.
Her list of interviewees includes Govs. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Tim Walz of Minnesota, as well as Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, according to sources familiar with Harris’ selection process. These sources have requested anonymity to protect the privacy of campaign deliberations.
Shapiro and Kelly were considered front-runners in the shortened selection process, which began with vetting about a dozen names. Some potential candidates, like North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, have publicly withdrawn from consideration due to concerns about out-of-state travel commitments if chosen for the national Democratic ticket.
Harris’ deadline for choosing a running mate is effectively Tuesday, coinciding with the start of her tour of seven key battleground states, commencing in Philadelphia.
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President Joe Biden mentioned having discussions with Harris regarding her vice presidential search, but declined to offer advice on qualities to look for in a running mate. Biden expressed confidence in Harris making her own decision during a press briefing at the White House.
Some individuals on Harris’ shortlist unexpectedly changed their plans for the weekend, hinting at potential developments in the vice presidential selection process. For instance, Shapiro canceled scheduled fundraisers in Long Island, New York, with limited explanation provided by his press secretary.
While speculation heightened following events like postponed fundraisers, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s social media video showcasing support for both Harris and Shapiro fueled further discussion. Despite interpretations suggesting inside knowledge of Harris’ decision, a source close to the mayor clarified the video was merely an endorsement of Harris and the possibility of Shapiro being chosen as her running mate.
