Vice President Kamala Harris‘s search for a running mate is barreling ahead, as it was revealed her team has met with a pair of leading candidates from her short list with an announcement just days away.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly have both met with members of Harris’ search team, it was reported Thursday, after both men have been on Harris’ short list for days.
Each offers potential assets to the candidate, who is fighting off GOP attacks on left wing positions dating to her time as California AG and her ill-fated run for president in 2020.
The Harris campaign has announced a week full of campaign appearances starting Tuesday in Philadelphia, which would put her on Shapiro’s home turf, in a state that is crucial to the Democratic ‘blue wall.’
Notably, Shapiro has demonstrated an ability to win statewide and outperform Joe Biden in western Pennsylvania. He ran up big margins in suburban and exurban areas around Philadelphia in his 2022 win, beating Republican Doug Mastriano by 15 points statewide.
There was another potential clue Thursday when Shapiro abruptly cancelled a planned trip to rake in campaing cash in the Hamptons this weekend.
His team offered no hint that the cancellation had anything to do with the VP selection process.
‘The Governor’s trip was planned several weeks ago and included several fundraisers for his own campaign committee,’ spokesperson Manuel Bonder told DailyMail.com.
‘His schedule has changed and he is no longer traveling to the Hamptons this weekend,’ Bonder added.
Politico reported that the pair of meetings don’t necessarily mean that the two candidates have advanced over others on Harris’ short list. (Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is another).
Bloomberg reported that the meetings did not include Harris herself. She has spent time with each potential running mate while traveling the country, including through multiple Pennsylvania visits.
Open weekend: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has met with Kamala Harris’ team, and has cleared previous comittments to haul in campaign cash in the Hamptons
Sky high: Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly has been in space four times, and could provide a lift to Harris in the Sun Belt
Kelly, meanwhile, brings his own brand of personal politics – having been hailed as a national hero for his military service and time as an astronaut, plus holding border credentials that will help with one of Harris’ greatest vulnerabilities.
Each has the ability to help Harris in a key state that was part of Biden’s winning coalition.
Of the two, Pennsylvania is considered crucial, and carries 19 electoral votes.
Arizona has 11 electoral votes. The state is also more Republican leaning. Only two Democrats have won it since 1952: Bill Clinton and Biden. Donald Trump’s lead there averages about 4 points after Harris snagged the lead in a Bloomber/Morning Consult poll.
(Trump holds a 3-point lead in Pennsylvania in the RealClearPolitics average.)
