Word has it that Kamala Harris is now down to two choices for her VP running mate - Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro or Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly had been in the running but last night he issued a statement on X (which he subsequently deleted) indicating his mission was now serving Arizonans.
While Shapiro has been bandied about as a potential running mate (and a potential presidential candidate), Walz emerged from relative obscurity when he began calling Republicans "weird".
Now let's suppose that Harris opts for Walz. A few things.
As has been noted, Harris will formally introduce her running mate in Philadelphia tomorrow. Given it is Shapiro's home turf it would be a letdown for the crowd if it was anyone other than Shapiro. It would be bad optics. In a word, it would be weird.
In picking Walz, Harris would also send the signal that she can be pushed around by the Far Left which has been singling out Shapiro for his pro-Israel stances. Except that his other VP rivals are similarly pro-Israel. What sets Shapiro is that he is Jewish and an observant one at that. Perhaps Harris is afraid some Democratic delegates will chant, "Genocide Josh!!!" Of course, she could pick Walz and those same delegates could chant, "Free, Free Palestine!!!" Much of the criticism against Shapiro is motivated by anti-Semitism and Harris would be foolish to lend legitimacy to this kind of hatred.
With that said, it should be noted that no Democrat is more pro-Israel these days than Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman. Yet Fetterman has no love lost for his fellow Pennsylvania Democrat and has reportedly tried to put the kibosh on his ascension. This I find disappointing.
If Harris picks Walz, it would also be a signal to big labor. UAW President Shawn Fain has been critical of Shapiro for his support of school vouchers and has openly called upon Harris to pick Walz or Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to be her running mate. With Beshear out of the picture, Walz would be their man. Let us also consider that Teamsters President Sean O'Brien spoke at the Republican National Convention last month and the unions are worried their rank and file might see fit to support Trump. Bernie Sanders is also urging Harris to tab Walz.
None of this is a knock against Walz. After all, he is a successful two-term governor who has captured the imagination of the Democratic Party with one weird trick. Unlike Trump, Walz can be considered an authentic populist who actually cares about people's well-being.
While I have no specific objections to Walz as an individual, I think Harris would be better off in the long run if she chose Shapiro.
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