United States Vice-President Kamala Harris is expected to announce her running mate by Tuesday morning, concluding two weeks of intense speculation.
This announcement comes at a pivotal time as the nation prepares for the November election, with the latest CBS poll indicating a tight race between Harris and former President Donald Trump.
Over the weekend, Harris interviewed several top contenders in Washington DC, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.
According to campaign insiders, she also met with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and spoke with other candidates virtually.
The announcement of her running mate will be followed by a whirlwind five-day tour covering seven cities, as Harris intensifies her campaign efforts in key battleground states.
The CBS poll released on Sunday shows a close national race, with Harris holding a narrow one-point lead over Trump. In battleground states, the candidates are tied, a significant shift from earlier in the race when Trump had a five-point lead while Joe Biden was still a candidate.
Harris’s vetting process was led by former US Attorney General Eric Holder, who provided detailed assessments of each contender, including potential political vulnerabilities. Among the candidates, Governor Shapiro has faced criticism from left-wing groups for his support of private school vouchers in Pennsylvania and his pro-Israel stance. Despite this, he remains a strong contender due to his executive experience and political acumen.
The campaign spokesperson, Kevin Munoz, addressed rumours about Harris’s decision, stating on social media, “We understand the excitement and interest here, but VP Harris has made no decision on a running mate yet!”
The Harris campaign is preparing for an extensive series of events starting with a rally in Philadelphia, where she and her new running mate will make their first joint appearance. This event will be followed by stops in Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and culminate with a campaign event in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 10 August.
In contrast, Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, have downplayed the significance of Harris’s choice. In a recent podcast, Vance remarked, “People are going to vote primarily for Donald Trump or for Kamala Harris. That’s the way these things go.” Trump echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the vice-presidential pick “does not have any impact.”
However, Trump has also criticised Governor Shapiro, suggesting that his selection could alienate certain voter bases. On Fox News, Trump commented that Harris could lose “her little Palestinian base” if she chooses Shapiro, referencing Shapiro’s past controversial statements about Palestinians. Shapiro has since stated his support for a two-state solution, aiming to address these concerns.
As the Democratic National Committee completed its virtual roll call vote, officially nominating Harris as the first black and South Asian American candidate for a major party’s White House campaign, the anticipation for her running mate choice continues to build. The upcoming announcement is poised to shape the final months of an already historic and contentious election season.
