Kamala Harris’ top picks for VP could also be her strongest competitors

U.S. President Joe Biden has ended his reelection campaign and is endorsing Kamala Harris to beryllium nan Democratic nominee successful nan November 5 statesmanlike election. In nan ensuing powerfulness vacuum, Harris has emerged arsenic nan evident prime to look disconnected against nan Republican nominee, erstwhile president Donald Trump, but first, she will person to statement up support wrong her party.

Nothing astir Harris’ information is guaranteed and nan existent Vice President has stated that she intends to “earn and win” her spot connected nan ballot. Democrats are group to prime their nominee astatine nan Democratic National Convention, slated for Aug. 19-22.

Even earlier Biden announced he was dropping retired of nan race, Democrats were floating galore imaginable alternatives for nan information aft nan President’s disastrous statement performance against Trump. So far, though, nary different Democrat has announced they intend to run against Harris — but it’s still early days.

Leading Democrats who person nan champion changeable astatine challenging Harris are besides immoderate of her strongest picks for a moving mate. Harris herself ran a statesmanlike run against Biden successful 2020 earlier dropping retired of nan title and joining his ticket.

High-profile Democrats now person to take betwixt throwing their chapeau successful nan ring, against a campaigner pinch world sanction nickname and who is already receiving a activity of endorsements, aliases propulsion their support down her. While caller polling suggests a majority of Democrats support Harris, she has besides faced scrutiny for failing to measurement up connected captious issues and distinguish herself successful her vice-presidential role.

The mobility remains if Harris would beryllium capable to conclusion Trump if she secures nan nomination.

Here’s a look astatine immoderate of nan apical Democratic politicians who could springiness Harris a tally for her money, aliases perchance subordinate her ticket.

Gavin Newsom

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has agelong been considered arsenic a imaginable campaigner for president, arsenic he’s 1 of nan astir recognized figures successful nan Democratic Party.

Newsom besides fuelled speculation astir his White House ambitions aft he debated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis past year. Some called it a model into an replacement governmental universe, successful which DeSantis and Newsom faced disconnected for nan Oval Office alternatively of Biden and Trump.

Newsom launched a “Campaign for Democracy” past twelvemonth to beforehand Democratic causes, including weapon betterment and abortion rights. It has truthful acold raised complete US$10 cardinal while besides raising his floor plan connected nan nationalist stage.

However, Newsom has said aggregate times that he would not tally for president and his chances of being picked arsenic a moving mate besides look rather slim. Harris is besides from California and won’t request overmuch thief shoring up support successful nan historically bluish state.

Newsom reacted to nan news of Biden’s exit from nan statesmanlike title by tweeting that he “will spell down successful history arsenic 1 of nan astir impactful and selfless presidents.”

Gretchen Whitmer

Besides Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer apt has nan champion chance astatine challenging Harris for nan nomination. But she excessively has signalled she won’t propulsion her chapeau successful nan ring.

Whitmer tweeted that her “job successful this predetermination will stay nan same” aft Biden announced he wasn’t seeking reelection.

Whitmer has go a starring sound successful nan Democratic statement and impressively won reelection successful Michigan, a battleground state, by double digits successful 2022. With her guidelines of support being successful a plaything state, immoderate person floated Whitmer arsenic a premier campaigner for moving mate. If so, it would beryllium nan first all-woman summons for U.S. president successful history, a imaginable prize successful an predetermination wherever women’s reproductive authorities are a apical issue.

The 52-year-old politician besides attracted Biden’s attraction successful 2020, being vetted arsenic a imaginable moving mate earlier Biden picked Harris.

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Josh Shapiro

While Whitmer has only signalled she won’t situation Harris, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has formally endorsed her for President.

“The champion way guardant for nan Democratic Party is to quickly merge down Vice President Kamala Harris and refocus connected winning nan presidency,” Shapiro wrote connected X, formerly Twitter.

A New York Times canvass from May recovered that Shapiro is particularly celebrated pinch Trump supporters successful Pennsylvania. Given that he has patient support successful 1 of nan astir important battleground states of this year’s election, Shapiro has a beardown bid for moving mate.

The erstwhile state’s lawyer wide has been viewed arsenic a rising prima successful nan statement aft he took agency past year. Shapiro hit retired Republican Doug Mastriano successful 2022 by a comfortable 12 points to triumph Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial election.

Other starring Democrats

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is different Democrat pinch uncommon fame successful a traditionally Republican state, carving a successful profession successful a authorities that supported Trump by much than 25 points successful 2020.

U.S. Senator Mark Kelly is good liked among Democratic Party elites for striking a comparatively mean reside successful a hotly contested authorities that traditionally has favoured Republicans. A erstwhile U.S. Navy skipper and astronaut, Kelly is besides nan hubby of erstwhile Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was earnestly wounded successful a 2011 shooting. Gun unit is simply a awesome run rumor for Democrats.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has immoderate of nan champion name-recognition successful nan Democratic statement aft he ran for statesmanlike information against some Biden and Harris successful 2020. Buttigieg later endorsed Biden and was picked to subordinate nan incoming administration’s furniture successful 2021. The erstwhile South Bend, Indiana, politician besides has heavy ties successful Michigan, a captious authorities for Democrats successful November.

Harris’ odds

Harris has maintained a respectable support standing arsenic vice president and she polls highest among Democrats to switch Biden successful nan race. She has besides been profoundly embedded successful nan existing Democratic campaign, each reasons why she appears to beryllium nan earthy prime to lead nan statement successful nan upcoming election.

If named arsenic nan statement nominee, Harris stands to return complete nan money raised by nan Biden run and inherit nan run infrastructure, multiple sources told Reuters.

U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn, nan Democrat often credited pinch securing Biden’s information successful nan 2020 statesmanlike race, has endorsed Harris’ campaign.

“I echo nan bully judgement (Biden) demonstrated successful selecting Vice President Harris to lead this federation alongside him, and I americium proud to travel his lead successful support of her candidacy to win him arsenic nan Democratic Party’s 2024 nominee for President,” Clyburn wrote.

The optics of passing complete Harris for nan information would not beryllium bully for nan Democratic party, strategists suggest, arsenic Black and women voters are cardinal to immoderate electoral victory.

Still, nan information is acold from secure. The only point for definite is that Democrats person constricted clip to rally down a campaigner who tin situation Trump.

— pinch files from Reuters