Josh Shapiro and Mark Kelly among top contenders for Kamala Harris' VP nominee, per insiders
WASHINGTON, DC: The race for Kamala Harris' VP pick is getting hotter.
As per reports, the two frontrunners are Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.
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Gov Josh Shapiro is towards the 'top' of the Democratic Party's VP race, says source
Both Governor Josh Shapiro and Senator Mark Kelly come from swing states and are desperate for a win in November.
“Shapiro is toward the top. Locking down Pennsylvania would change the entire trajectory of the race," an insider spilled.
It was Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump who historically won the Keystone State in the 2016 election.
It is however expected that Arizona would stay with Democrats, which was won by President Joe Biden and Harris in 2020, and Kelly is going to get a ticket for the upcoming elections.
Las Vegas is fired up today! Both Nevada and Arizona will play a big role in deciding the direction of our country this November.
— Captain Mark Kelly (@CaptMarkKelly) June 28, 2024
The choice is clear: @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris are working every day to move our country forward, while Donald Trump only looks out for himself. pic.twitter.com/91rz762gZt
Talking about his fellow Democrat, an inside reflected, “Astronaut, safe choice, Gabby Giffords,” he said referring to Kelly’s former occupation and his politician wife, who survived a shooting at a 2011 constituent event in Tucson.
Meghan McCain, the daughter of late Republican Arizona Senator John McCain, felt Kelly was “absolutely” a frontrunner for the Vice President nomination.
“He and his wife Gabby are very well liked and respected in Arizona. His military and NASA background is obviously very compelling and inspirational. He is a dangerous choice for Republicans,” she said.
Madam Vice President @KamalaHarris: picking @JoshShapiroPA will harm the momentum that you have with youth voters - anyone but him please?
— Chi Ossé (@OsseChi) July 24, 2024
Gov Josh Shapiro has unapologetically supported Israel
Josh Shapiro’s critics feel he is an open supporter of Israel, and took a tough stance against pro-Hamas at the universities where anti-Israel protests took place.
New York City Councilman Chi Osse urged Harris not to select Shapiro over X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Madam Vice President @KamalaHarris picking @JoshShapiroPA will harm the momentum that you have with youth voters – anyone but him please.”
Shapiro has also been accused by one statewide Democrat of not moving fast enough to address a sexual misconduct complaint against one of his top staffers.
On the other hand, Kelly is likely to keep Arizona, but it can go either way in November, reported the New York Post.
The other names that are kept in reserve for the VP post, are North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
Cooper has a strong career graph with won six statewide general elections in the past 20 years, while Beshear could give competition to Republican vice presidential nominee Senator JD Vance’s with Appalachia voters.
