The one who could help Harris cross the threshold.
Within two weeks, the Democrats will scrutinize potential vice-presidential candidates for Kamala Harris. In the end, Governor Tim Walz will prevail over his colleague Josh Shapiro. However, Shapiro will still play a key role in the campaign - and possibly for the future.
As if they planned it this way, Kamala Harris has found her vice-presidential running mate three months before the U.S. election: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Now, she will embark on a campaign tour with him through battleground states that will determine victory or defeat in November. The other top contender was Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who could be the one to push Harris over the threshold into the White House.
scarcely had Harris become the presumed Democratic presidential candidate after Biden's withdrawal, speculation began: Who will the incumbent vice-president choose as her running mate? Now, the decision has been made. Vice-presidential candidates are typically vetted by the campaign team and lawyers. Who is a strategic good choice? Who is a good campaigner? Who might have skeletons in the closet? This process can take months. Harris had less than two weeks. Initially, there were six candidates, and in the end, it was a duel between Shapiro and Walz.
Besides the two, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly was also one of the six. He would have been a contentious choice: Kelly is a former soldier and astronaut who advocates for a hard line on border policy and gun rights - appealing to independents and more conservative voters. Arizona is one of the so-called battleground states. However, as a senator, Kelly holds a valuable Democratic seat in Congress for at least four more years.
If Harris chose her vice-president based on strategic considerations, the designated Walz has an advantage. In his second term as governor of Minnesota, he might have had an ace up his sleeve: he provided Harris and the Democrats with a sharp weapon for the campaign. "These guys are just weird," Walz said on a morning show about the political opposition, sparking an internet wave. Harris' campaign team is also riding on this. Republicans are now "weird."
Awkward politicians, strange situations, twisted statements: If Democrats want to portray their conservative competitors as unelectable without resorting to the same rhetoric as Republicans, they simply say: "This is weird." That's odd. It's folksy, not overly intellectual, and it works. Walz demonstrated instinct with this, which could be essential in the coming three months.
The Center Man
Although Josh Shapiro won't be the vice-president, he will be an indispensable campaigner and governor of Pennsylvania. Whoever wins this eastern state in November significantly increases their chances of a national victory. Almost all roads to Washington lead through the votes there. Shapiro has a mission: Pennsylvania must not fall into Republican hands.
The governor has good cards for this mission. He has a 61% approval rating in his home state. In a hypothetical presidential duel against Trump, the governor would win there by a margin of 10 percentage points, according to polls. A survey from May also showed that Shapiro has supporters in practically all population groups. Even more than a third of Trump's and independent voters see him positively.
The 51-year-old worked his way up through the ranks of the Democrats over the years. Before his governorship, in 2016 when Trump won the presidency, he was elected Attorney General of Pennsylvania. Shapiro published a report on abuse in the Catholic Church and, in 2020, he and his team fought off over 40 lawsuits from Trump alleging election fraud.
Shapiro, a centrist, conveys an important message in Pennsylvania: unity is key. The governor works closely with Republicans, who control one of the two legislative chambers. His signing of an executive order on his first day in office, eliminating the requirement for a college degree for public service jobs, has been well-received by workers.
Strong Ties to Unions
Shapiro won the 2022 gubernatorial election by almost 15 percentage points over the Republican candidate, Doug Mastriano, who was supported by Trump. This is a clear demonstration of Shapiro's ability to mobilize voters in Pennsylvania. Although Mastriano was an extreme candidate, advocating for a complete ban on abortions and new voting restrictions, Shapiro's strong ties to unions, particularly in the energy sector, could be a key factor in a potential November victory. Republicans have attacked Harris for her previous statements about banning fracking, but Shapiro could counter this, as his state is the second-largest producer of natural gas in the U.S.
Shapiro is also an excellent speaker and known for his wit. During his 2022 campaign, which was supported by former President Barack Obama, his impassioned speech about the importance of "true freedom" gained media attention. Despite sounding somewhat clichéd, Shapiro manages to come across as authentic.
Before Biden announced his candidacy, U.S. media outlets had identified Shapiro as one of the most likely Democratic candidates for the 2028 presidential election, based on his poll numbers and background. Regardless of what happens, Shapiro already plays a crucial role for the Democrats and Harris' bid for the White House, even if he remains governor for now.
For Shapiro, Harris' and Walz's campaign tour's first stop is a home game: a basketball arena in Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania. Here, he can once again demonstrate his value as a campaigner in his own state, standing alongside Harris and Walz.
Joe Biden, as the former president, is expected to play a significant role in supporting Kamala Harris and her vice-presidential running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, during their campaign tour through battleground states. Despite not being selected as the vice-president, Josh Shapiro's strong ties to unions, particularly in the energy sector, and his ability to mobilize voters in Pennsylvania, make him an indispensable figure in the campaign to win over this key battleground state.
