List Of Potential Harris VP Picks Has Been Revealed
Vice President Kamala Harris is already looking at a list of potential running mate’s of her own if she does indeed secure the Democratic Party nomination for president at the party’s convention next month.
CNN’s Jamie Gangel reported that President Biden’s decision to step aside came as a surprise to Harris. The president had been adamant both publicly, and reportedly privately that he intended to stay in the race as late as Friday night. The president reportedly “changed his mind” on Saturday, however.
“And the first thing I’m told that they’re looking at is logistics. They have a campaign to put together. She has to see, as Phil was talking about earlier, whether anyone’s going to challenge her,” Gangel reported.
“The other thing is simply, you know, how does she get her name on the ballot? Yes, she is part of this infrastructure with the campaign and the convention, but this is a whole new game.”
Gangel, citing multiple sources close to the vice president, further reported that Harris is reviewing a list of potential running mates in order to consolidate support around her candidacy and generate excitement. One name on the list is Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), “who I am told she likes a-lot,” Gangel said. Kelly, as well as his wife, former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, have already endorsed Harris’ candidacy.
Other candidates include Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. “There are clearly others, but those four names are the names I keep hearing about,” the CNN reporter added.
Harris has received a number of endorsements in the hours following President Biden’s unprecedented decision, which comes just five months before the general election and after he was already selected by Democratic primary voters. Bill and Hillary Clinton, Alex Soros and President Biden himself are among key names who have endorsed Harris as of Sunday afternoon.
Other key Democrat leaders opted not to endorse Harris in statements praising President Biden, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
Former President Barack Obama also failed to mention Vice President Harris in a lengthy statement. “We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead. But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges,” the former president wrote. “I believe that Joe Biden’s vision of a generous, prosperous, and united America that provides opportunity for everyone will be on full display at the Democratic Convention in August. And I expect that every single one of us are prepared to carry that message of hope and progress forward into November and beyond.”
Democrats will likely have no choice but to stick with Harris if they want to be able to access the Biden-Harris campaign war chest. As of 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, the Biden presidential committee had changed its name to “Harris for President.”
Biden Campaign leaders have also been working to reassure staff that they will still be employed with the goal of electing Harris.
President Biden has yet to make a public statement on his decision, though he has stated that he will be addressing the nation later this week.
