Kamala Harris Considers Top Candidates for Vice President, Tour of Battleground States Next Week

Vice President Kamala Harris is currently interviewing six potential running mates this weekend as she prepares for a formal announcement and a tour of battleground states with her new vice president next week. Her interview list includes Governors Andy Beshear of Kentucky, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Tim Walz of Minnesota, as well as Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, according to sources familiar with Harris’ selection process. These sources spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private campaign deliberations.

Shapiro and Kelly had been considered front-runners during the vice-presidential selection process, which began with the vetting of about a dozen names. Some candidates, such as North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, have publicly withdrawn from consideration due to concerns about traveling out of the state if selected. Harris’s deadline for choosing a running mate is effectively Tuesday when she will begin a tour of seven key battleground states, starting in Philadelphia.

President Joe Biden stated that he has spoken to Harris about her search for a vice presidential candidate, but when asked whether he had advice for the qualities she should look for in a running mate, he demurred, saying, “I’ll let her work that out.” Some candidates on Harris’s short list have abruptly cancelled their plans for this weekend, potentially signaling developments in the vice-presidential selection process. For example, Shapiro scrapped three weekend fundraisers in Long Island, New York, without providing a clear explanation for the change in plans.

Meanwhile, a video posted on social media by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, a supporter of Shapiro for vice president, caused speculation. The video featured Philadelphia-area officials promoting Harris for president and advocating for Shapiro as her vice-presidential pick, leading to suggestions that Parker may have inside knowledge about Harris’ decision.

However, a source familiar with the mayor’s thinking said that the video was simply the mayor showing support for both Harris and the potential selection of Shapiro as her vice-presidential running mate.