Josh Shapiro VP snub: Sources say Kamala Harris was afraid he'd steal the spotlight and overshadow her

WASHINGTON, DC: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently addressed his decision not to join the 2024 Democratic ticket as the vice presidential candidate.

According to sources, the primary reason Shapiro was passed over lies in presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s concerns about him potentially stealing the spotlight and alienating the party’s progressive base due to his staunch support for Israel.

Josh Shapiro's statement and subsequent reactions

Josh Shapiro expressed his full support for Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. He emphasized that his work in Pennsylvania was “far from finished".

“Over the next 90 days, I look forward to traveling all across the Commonwealth to unite Pennsylvanians behind Kamala Harris’ campaign to defeat Donald Trump, become the 47th President of the United States, and build a better future for our country,” Shapiro posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Political consultant Hank Sheinkopf explained to the New York Post that Shapiro’s strong pro-Israel stance made him a risky choice for Harris’ campaign.

“The ticket would have been too pro-Israel. Harris doesn’t need a battle over Israel-Gaza,” Sheinkopf noted, adding that the Vice President needs to secure the votes of pro-Palestinian progressives who are critical of Israel. “She has to keep the progressives in the fold,” Sheinkopf added.

This sentiment was echoed by Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance. Johnson suggested that Harris’ reluctance stemmed from the Democratic Party's internal divisions over Israel.

“I think that clearly was a major factor, is that she was reluctant to put a vice presidential nominee on the ticket with Jewish heritage because they’re having a split in the Democratic Party,” Johnson told The Hill following Harris’ announcement.

“They have a pro-Palestinian, in some cases pro-Hamas wing of the Democratic Party. Sadly for Josh Shapiro, because of his heritage, I think that is the reason he was overlooked,” he added.

Meanwhile, Vance expressed his sympathy for Shapiro. “I genuinely feel bad that for days, maybe weeks, [Shapiro] actually had to run away from his Jewish heritage because of what the Democrats are saying about [him],” Vance told the New York Post on Tuesday, August 6.

“The fact that that race — the vice presidential race on the Democratic side — became so focused on his ethnicity, I think it’s absolutely disgraceful, and it’s insulting to Americans, whatever background you’re from,” he added.

Earlier, Vance had predicted that Shapiro would be snubbed due to antisemitism within the Democratic caucus during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

Counterarguments and support for Kamala Harris

A Democratic operative dismissed the notion that anti-Israel sentiment played a significant role in Josh Shapiro’s exclusion, arguing that if his pro-Israel stance was a major issue, he would not have made it this far in the selection process.

“I think if the flak he’d taken regarding Israel had been a stronger consideration, he wouldn’t have made it this far at all,” the operative said.

Despite this, the Biden-Harris administration has faced declining support from Muslim and Arab Americans due to its support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. For instance, nearly 20% of Democratic primary voters in Minnesota registered as “uncommitted” in protest of the US supporting Israel’s war efforts.

Critics from the left flank of the Democratic Party have labeled Shapiro as “Genocide Josh”, reflecting deep divisions within the party over Israel.

Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla) bluntly stated, “These Progressives don’t want a Jew. Let’s say it out loud,” in response to the backlash against Shapiro, who has defended Israel and criticized some Israeli government actions in the West Bank.

Shapiro himself attempted to distance himself from past remarks, including an op-ed he wrote as a college student about his service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and his views on Palestinians.

“I was 20,” he said when asked to comment on the article last week.

In his Tuesday statement, Shapiro characterized the decision not to join the ticket as “deeply personal” for both him and Harris. The Democratic operative further confirmed that Harris was aware of Shapiro's potential to overshadow her.

“My honest sense is that Harris had a concern that Shapiro would overshadow her and be the spotlight of the ticket here,” the operative said, noting Shapiro’s ability to outshine some of the party’s national leaders.

Ultimately, Walz was seen as a safer choice and a more neutral option. “What this pick came down to was, more or less, vibes,” the operative added, describing Walz’s as a “Midwestern do-no-harm vibe.”