American Elections: Harris Narrows Running Mate Choices

• Pennsylvania Gov Shapiro and Minnesota Gov Walz emerge as frontrunners

United States (US) Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris has narrowed her search for a Vice Presidential running mate to two finalists, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz,

According to three sources with knowledge of the issue at stake, Harris is expected to announce her selection by Tuesday, ahead of her first scheduled public appearance with her running mate in the evening at Temple University in Philadelphia.

However, the sources told the news wire that it was unclear if a final decision has been made on the most appropriate choice.

The Philadelphia rally will kick off a five-day, seven-city tour of the battleground states likely to decide the 5 November election.

Speculation had focused on six men in all, four Governors, a Senator and a Cabinet Secretary in the Biden administration.

The last couple of days have been spent by Kamala interviewing contenders to be her running mate on the Democratic ticket this coming election and the process may have whittled her list from six to just two in recent hours, if a report via anonymous sources from Reuters are true.

The sources confirmed that from all indications, the list has narrowed down to the two mentioned governors, Shapiro, and Walz.

But another source close to the Harris’ campaign team hinted that there were still six contenders in the race, even as some other outlets appeared to indicate that Shapiro, Walz and the US Senator from Arizona, Mark Kelly remain the top three on the card.

It is expected that Harris and her No 2 person will debut as the presumptive Democratic ticket at a rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania tomorrow, Tuesday evening.

“So if it’s not Shapiro that would be hard for him to swallow. If it’s really down to two, here are our thumbnails on them”, one of the sources said.

Shapiro is a congressional aide turned State representative and State Attorney General. The 51-year-old father of four was elected Governor in 2022. Close to two years later, he maintains historically high approval ratings.

On his part, Walz has captured the internet’s attention and swayed Democrats’ messaging recently by succinctly summing up how he views Republicans: “They’re weird.” Before he took up politics, Walz, 60, was born and raised in small-town Nebraska and became a teacher, first in China, then Nebraska, finally Minnesota.

Whosoever emerges as Harris’s Vice Presidential choice for the Democratic ticket will be officially informed of her decision tonight or in the morning. – With The Guardian report