Kamala Harris is keeping things exciting: Before her decision on her vice presidential candidate, which is expected this Tuesday, the designated presidential candidate of the US Democrats has, according to media reports, narrowed her selection down to two men – the governor of the state of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, and the governor of the state of Minnesota, Tim Walz. Harris will probably announce her decision in a video message.
“I have not yet made my decision,” Harris said in an email to her supporters on Monday evening (local time). However, she wants to begin a five-day campaign tour through particularly contested and decisive states – so-called swing states – with an appearance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday evening together with her running mate.
On Wednesday they will travel to Wisconsin and Michigan, Arizona on Friday and Nevada on Saturday. They were also planning to appear in the contested southeastern states of North Carolina on Thursday and Georgia on Friday. According to local media, these dates were postponed due to tropical storm Debby.
The candidate at Harris’s side is expected to help her reach a broader spectrum of voters and win in the swing states.
The favorite is Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania – the largest swing state. Shapiro is known as a very popular governor and could make it easier for Harris to win in this state, which is considered particularly important for the election. The 51-year-old is a strong speaker and won the 2022 gubernatorial election against an ultra-right candidate supported by former President Donald Trump.
If the Democratic duo wins, Shapiro would also be the first Jewish vice president of the USA – alongside the first – black – woman in the White House. However, his support for Israel and his handling of pro-Palestinian protests triggered backlash in the left-wing camp. The Democrats are trying to assure that the party convention in Chicago in mid-August will not be disrupted by left-wing and anti-Israel activists.
Shapiro’s supporters attribute criticism of him to anti-Semitism. However, many political experts believe that Shapiro’s moderate profile will bring him more votes from the political center than it will cost him votes on the left.
As Attorney General of Pennsylvania, Shapiro took action against Catholic priests who had sexually abused thousands of children, as well as against the pharmaceutical manufacturer Purdue, which is blamed for the opioid crisis.
60-year-old Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota, is considered a politician who uses simple language to reach voters without a university education. At the same time, the former National Guardsman, teacher and football coach holds liberal positions on abortion and cannabis.
Walz caused a stir when he called Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance “weird.” He is considered the originator of this label, which became widespread and which Harris has since often used for her rivals.
Although the Midwestern state of Minnesota is not one of the narrow circle of states that will decide the election, it could possibly help Walz win in the region’s swing states such as Wisconsin and Michigan.
Over the weekend, Harris met with Walz, Shapiro and Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona at their residence in Washington, US media reported.
Other possible vice presidential candidates included incumbent Transportation Secretary Steve Buttigieg; Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a longtime friend of Harris, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
Harris is enjoying rising approval ratings, according to several polls. In a nationwide poll by the Morning Consult Institute, she was four points ahead of Trump at 48 percent. However, a new poll by CBS News found that Harris’ approval among black voters is lower than it was for US President Joe Biden when he defeated Trump in 2020. Some leading Democrats have therefore warned against complacency.
“She’s got a lot of momentum, but if you look at the polls, it’s still a really close race,” former President Barack Obama strategist David Axelrod told political website The Hill. “It’s going to be a tough fight for each side.”
