US Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, will interview six potential running mates this weekend before making a formal announcement and touring battleground states with her new vice presidential pick next week, according to two people familiar with Harris’ selection process.
According to Harris’ interview list, the six people are Governors Andy Beshear of Kentucky, JB Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Tim Walz of Minnesota, and Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, according to the people cited above who spoke on condition of anonymity.
According to sources, Harris will hold her first rally with her new vice presidential nominee in Philadelphia on August 6.
Shapiro and Kelly were considered the frontrunners in the vice presidential selection process, which initially included about a dozen candidates.
However, some individuals have distanced themselves from consideration, including North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, who cited concerns about the demands of campaigning nationally and frequent travel outside of the state.
Several people on Harris’s shortlist have made last-minute changes to their weekend plans, fuelling speculation about developments in the selection process.
For example, Shapiro canceled three fundraising events on Long Island, New York, leading some to believe this could be a sign that he is being seriously considered for the vice presidential spot.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has been involved in discussions with Harris about finding a running mate for her. However, he declined to offer any specific advice, saying, “I’ll let her work on it.”
On July 21, Biden dropped out of the presidential race after facing mounting pressure from fellow Democrats over concerns about his age and mental health following a poor performance in a debate against former President Donald Trump in June. That same day, Biden endorsed Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee.
The video showed several Philadelphia-area officials and Democrats endorsing Harris for president, but also calling for Shapiro to be the vice presidential nominee, leading to speculation that Parker may have had inside information about Harris’s decision.
However, one person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Parker was showing her support for both Harris and Shapiro and said the mayor had high hopes that Shapiro would be the vice presidential nominee.
Meanwhile, Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said on Friday that Harris has secured enough Democratic delegate votes to become the party’s presidential nominee. She is set to become the first black woman to top a major party’s ticket.
The Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago from August 19 to 22. The presidential election will be held on November 5.
(With inputs from Associated Press)
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