Vice President Kamala Harris is set to launch her first rally with her new vice-presidential nominee on Tuesday, August 6, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
This event marks the beginning of a four-day tour through battleground states, including Michigan and Arizona, according to the campaign’s announcement.
The choice of Philadelphia for the initial rally hints that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro may be at the top of Harris’s short list for the vice-presidential spot.
The Harris campaign’s decision to kick off the tour in Pennsylvania underscores the state’s importance, following its pivotal role in the 2020 election.
After the Philadelphia rally, Harris and her prospective running mate will visit six additional locations, including western Wisconsin, Detroit, and Las Vegas. The campaign emphasised that Harris has “made no decision on a running mate” yet.
The vice-presidential pick has become a focal point since Harris emerged as the leading Democratic candidate for the November 5 election after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race just over a week ago. Harris is expected to reveal her choice by Monday, ahead of Tuesday’s event.
Candidates under consideration reportedly include Shapiro, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. If Shapiro is selected, his popularity and strong performance in the governor’s race, where he won over 56% of the vote, could be a significant asset for Harris in November.
Shapiro would also make history as the second Jewish nominee for vice president on a major ticket, following Joe Lieberman’s 2000 bid with Al Gore.
In recent years, battleground states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have played crucial roles in presidential elections.
Typically, campaigns have months to select their vice-presidential pick after the primaries, but Harris is working under a compressed timeline due to a Democratic National Committee deadline of August 7.
Eric Holder Jr., former Attorney General and vice-presidential vetting expert for Barack Obama in 2008, is leading the vetting process through his firm, Covington & Burling. Candidates are actively campaigning and making public appearances to demonstrate their suitability for the role.
Shapiro, for instance, praised Harris during a recent event in the Philadelphia suburbs, saying, “She’s not only ready, she’s damned ready,” and adding that Donald Trump is aware of her readiness.
Governor Walz has also been vocal, criticizing the Republican ticket and emphasizing the Democrats’ new strategy. “The fascists depend on us going back, but we’re not afraid of weird people,” Walz said, referring to the Republican candidates.
Chioma Kalu
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