Insiders have revealed how Kamala Harris is likely to make the call for her running mate as well as who is influencing her decision.
The Vice President and her selection will embark on a battleground tour next week with stops in seven swing states from Pennsylvania to Nevada.
The short list of candidates reportedly includes Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
Suggestions have been pouring in from all corners including the likes of former president Barack Obama, which will be taken into considering along with a thorough interview process CNN reports.
Harris’ decision to kick off the tour in Pennsylvania has triggered speculation that her VP might be Shapiro. Her team insists she is still deciding, but a tweet from Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker appeared to confirm he was the choice.
Insiders have revealed how Kamala Harris is likely to make the call for her running mate as well as who is influencing her decision
Part of that process has included video interviews conducted scheduled for Friday and Saturday, sources close to Harris told the New York Times.
Pages of documents submitted by each of the candidates have been collated by a group of lawyers led by former Attorney General Eric Holder and former White House counsel Dana Remus into briefing books, CNN reports.
They are currently being waded through by Harris along with the team who will support her VP which has already been selected and includes a former Biden aide.
Harris is also relying on Obama, who reportedly called her to deliver his assessment.
But advice has been flooding in from all corners, including from her government chief of staff Lorraine Voles or her brother-in-law Tony West or campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, who helped Biden pick Harris in 2020 – has been weighing in with advice.
The influence of Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff is also said to be heavily underestimated.
Harris reportedly values the way she was welcomed into president Joe Biden’s family shortly after her selection and understands the importance of making a personal connection in addition to her typical pragmatic approach.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is said to be among the shortlist of candidates
He along with the likes of Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg (left) and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (right) are said to have submitted reams of documents which have been collated into briefing files for Harris
‘I watched her relationship with Biden,’ said former Louisiana congressman Cedric Richmond told CNN.
‘You have to have somebody who, No. 1, shares values, but No. 2, that you have a rapport with – because they’re going to be out running their own thing and doing their own thing, and you have to trust that they know you.’
Harris is also relying on public perceptions and has been conducting polling and focus groups to help gauge the temperature.
For their part, several of the possible VPs cleared their schedules ahead of the weekend in case Harris called.
They have also been doing all they can to remain in the public eye until a decision is made.
Shapiro told enthusiastic voters in suburban Philadelphia earlier this week that he believes Harris belongs in the White House.
He also reminded those who gathered of all his work as governor in the battleground state.
The Vice President and her selection will embark on a battleground tour next week with stops in seven swing states from Pennsylvania to Nevada
Former president Barack Obama reportedly called Harris to deliver his assessment and offer advice
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (left) and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly (right) are reportedly among those who were expected to be summoned for video interviews with Harris
While Beshear told voters in Georgia that Harris has the makings of ‘a great president’ and highlighted the elections he’s won as a Democrat.
However Representative Barbara Lee, a California Democrat and Harris ally, questioned if this would have much bearing on the final call.
‘I don’t think people talking publicly is going to sway her from her basic decision-making process,’ she told the NYT.
According to campaign sources, who spoke with the Associated Press, Shapiro and Kelly are among the front-runners.
Harris, according to another person familiar with the matter, is seeking someone with executive experience who can also serve as a governing partner.
