CNN’s Jamie Gangel recently reported that Vice President Kamala Harris was already vetting four people as potential running mates just hours after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed her via Mediaite.
Biden’s endorsement does not make Harris the Democratic Party’s nominee for president. However, it will help her with momentum as she seeks to lock up the nomination at the Democratic National Convention next month. She has already locked up the endorsement of a slew of key Democrats.
During CNN’s special coverage of Biden’s historic campaign exit on Sunday evening, Gangel reported she had spoken to sources close to the vice president who shared the names of four potential running mates.
Gangel explained that Harris likes Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Democratic North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, and Democratic Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Beshear though has reportedly been eliminated.
Hearing Shapiro moving up the list for Kamala VP after Andy's missteps today. Too much 'yapping' at Vance and courting the suburban wine mom vote that Kamala didn't like, wanted him to be a Vance-lite / blue dog balance to her
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) July 23, 2024
Soon after Gangel’s reporting, Shapiro endorsed Harris. It has been noted that the reporter theorized that creating a list of running mates could scare away “some challengers” who might consider making a run for the nomination.
She also explained that with just more than three months until the election, Harris and her team are hitting the ground running.
“The first thing I’m told that they’re looking at is logistics. They have a campaign to put together,” Gangel reported. “She has to get the nomination. She has to see [if] anyone’s going to challenge her.
Gangel concluded Harris hopes to generate “excitement” about her campaign by aligning herself with prominent Democrats who are generally popular among voters.
In a Sunday afternoon statement, Harris said she would “unite” the country around her and earn her party’s nomination.
Biden said in his endorsement of Harris, “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
