(Washington) Vice President Kamala Harris will interview a half-dozen potential running mates this weekend before a formal announcement and a tour with her new No. 2 next week.
His list of prospects 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 two people familiar with Mr. Pritzker’s selection process.me Harris. These people spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private campaign deliberations.
Mr. Shapiro and Mr. Kelly had been considered among the frontrunners during his shortened selection process, which began with vetting about a dozen names.
PHOTO KEVIN MOHATT, REUTERS
Kamala Harris and Josh Shapiro
Some have publicly withdrawn from consideration, such as North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, who is close to Mr.me Harris since their shared time as state attorneys general, but who expressed concern about regular out-of-state travel if he were chosen.
The deadline to choose a vice presidential candidate is Tuesday, when Kamala Harris will launch a tour of seven key election states, starting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
President Joe Biden told reporters Friday that he has spoken with his colleague about his search for a vice presidential candidate, but when asked if he had any advice on what qualities she should look for in a running mate, the president did not respond.
“I’m going to let her figure that out,” Biden said on the South Lawn of the White House before leaving for Wilmington, Delaware, for the weekend.
Some of the people on M’s shortlistme Harris had abruptly canceled their plans for this weekend, signaling that something might be brewing in the vice presidential selection process. For example, Josh Shapiro canceled three fundraisers in beach communities on New York’s Long Island coast, and his press secretary, Manuel Bonder, offered little explanation as to why.
“The governor’s trip was scheduled several weeks ago and included several fundraisers for his own campaign committee,” Bonder said in a statement. “His schedule has changed and he will no longer be traveling to the Hamptons this weekend.”
A fundraiser for Mr. Shapiro was to be hosted by Michael Kempner, a member of President Joe Biden’s domestic finance committee. He said in a note to guests that the gathering had been postponed and openly advocated for Josh Shapiro to be Kamala Harris’s No. 2, writing that “many are speculating that this is a sign that he will be the vice president.”
Meanwhile, a video posted on social media by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker — who has publicly endorsed Josh Shapiro for vice president — caused a stir Friday. It showed a number of Philadelphia-area officials and Democrats promoting Kamala Harris for president, but also touting Josh Shapiro for vice president, suggesting to some that Parker may have insider knowledge of the vice president’s decision.
However, a person close to the mayor clarified that the video simply showed Mme Marker supporting both people. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he or she was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Associated Press writer Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.