Another source familiar with how the Harris campaign is working on the vice presidential selection process said Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper are seen as front-runners by many aides, but that Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are also being vetted and are being considered as potential contenders.
The campaign is particularly interested in someone who can appeal to demographics and voters that Biden would have won, such as older white voters and suburban women, according to sources.
Harris’ aides also want their running mate to appeal specifically to white men who don’t like Trump but may be skeptical of Black and South Asian women voting for them, the people said.
“Let’s be honest and admit it, there are a lot of sexist and racist white guys in America who don’t like Trump but want a little more approval, and adding one of the aforementioned to the shortlist would help her gain approval among those voters,” the source said, adding that the campaign wants its running mate to rally support in battleground states and be prepared to hit back hard against Republican attacks.
The source noted that the campaign is “currently in the honeymoon phase” with regard to choosing a running mate, but that “things are about to get started in earnest.”
“She needs someone to protect her and be there for her through the many difficult times that are coming. MAGA is really going to erupt,” the source said. “These are going to be scary, crazy days. She needs someone to support her through the difficult times and someone to be there for her when these memes take hold, when these deepfakes take hold, when these things start to happen and to validate her with the small core constituency that will ultimately decide this election.”
