Speculation is currently swirling around Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in relation to his potential partnership with Vice President Kamala Harris. The notion of this pairing seems to subtly threaten those in the Republican camp, who see Shapiro as a determinant who could ostensibly help the diminishing appeal of Harris among traditional Democrats and independents who are parting ways with the party. However, given Shapiro’s blended political stances and lukewarm acceptance from Pennsylvania Republicans, it’s rather optimistic to believe he could shift the entire electoral landscape.
Republicans have been surprisingly laudatory of Gov. Shapiro for his approach to office, attributing aspects of his success to a seemingly moderate stance. In fact, some pundits even perceive his centrist demeanor as an asset that has saved him from harsh criticism from his Republican counterparts. However, this viewpoint is flattering at best. The fact that he’s seen as relatively non-threatening doesn’t automatically translate to swing voters flocking to his cause or bolsters his viability as a vice-presidential contender.
Trump supporters have almost reluctantly commented on Shapiro’s apparent appeal, cautiously defining him as a possible solution to fix Harris’ dwindling support. This narrative, however, is far from the reality of political dynamics. After all, even if Shapiro does manage to earn some brownie points with independent voters and a small portion of Republicans, it does not necessarily mean he can ‘save’ Harris, especially considering the diversity of the voting population and the complexity of the political climate.
Given Shapiro’s political performance thus, whispers of him being vetted for the position of Kamala Harris’ running mate are becoming increasingly prevalent. Despite being lumped together with other potential candidates like North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Shapiro seems to display a sense of entitlement. His statement that Harris should choose with whom she is comfortable is interesting but not necessarily effective in winning over public sentiment or addressing the core issues at hand.
Interestingly, the spurious idea of Shapiro being selected as Harris’ running mate has piqued the Trump Administration’s interest. The narrative of this partnership being a challenging factor for the Republicans has been entertained to such an extent that it is used to create dramatic political gossip. Yet, the Republicans’ fascination with a Harris-Shapiro ticket seems more likely to be a calculated deflection rather than a serious concern.
Looking back, the potential of Shapiro becoming Harris’ running mate had prompted talks within Trump’s campaign for selecting Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his running mate. The strategy behind this tactic may be an effort to counterbalance the hypothetical scenario of a Midwest Democratic governor pairing up with Kamala Harris. But, again, this suggests more of an overthinking rather than a genuine worry about the political balance.
The idea of a Harris-Shapiro ticket hardly swayed Trump’s choice of Vance as his running mate. Trump confidently dismissed any fears about Harris leading the ticket, claiming he would’ve still chosen the same person. His ease might be interpreted as political bravado or strategic calm. However, his insistence that Vance is doing well doesn’t demonstrate solid judgment considering the turbulent dynamics of the political scene.
The notion of battleground Pennsylvania becoming the epicenter of vice-presidential pursuits provides quite entertaining theatre. Should Shapiro be the nominee, there is a belief that the Philadelphia suburbs (known as ‘collar counties’) may experience a surge in Democrat voter turnout. However, the outcome of such a scenario remains speculative at best, and doesn’t guarantee a predictable outcome that will favor Shapiro and by extension, Harris.
Shapiro has built a somewhat bipartisan reputation in Pennsylvania over the years. Curiously, he has managed to pull ahead of Biden and Hillary Clinton during voting cycles. Yet, his record doesn’t overwhelmingly speak to a universal appeal across the state. His support for school vouchers, condemnation of antisemitism and Islamophobia, and public response to an attempted attack on Trump might earn him some points, but these are not significant enough to crown him as a game-changer.
Despite his steps towards a bipartisan approach, Shapiro has several criticisms coming his way from Republicans—more so now as he is being considered as a running mate for Harris. His contributions have been scrutinized, starting from his struggle to get bills through a divided legislature to his handling of sexual harassment claims against a legislative staffer. These issues serve as reminders of the real-world nuances often overlooked in speculative VP discussions.
Shapiro’s first foray into the budget negotiations resulted in his failure to rally Democrats around his school voucher plan, despite successful negotiations with Republican counterparts. Also, he faced backlash for appealing against a ruling that nullified Pennsylvania’s role in an interstate greenhouse gas reduction program. These instances hint at politically contentious moments that tarnish the image of Shapiro as a consensus builder.
Former Representative Keith Rothfus criticizes Shapiro’s stance on critical issues such as laws pertaining to energy, his endeavors to legalize recreational cannabis, and his position on abortion. Coincidentally, this series of criticisms emerged after President Biden announced he would step down. There’s a clear pattern of Republican disapproval where Shapiro’s policies and positions are concerned, casting doubts on his ability to resonate with a broad voter base.
Interestingly, a conservative think tank in Pennsylvania ran an ad in The Washington Post criticizing Shapiro the same day Biden announced his resignation. The ad mainly targeted Shapiro’s difficulty in getting legislation through a divided legislature. This criticism further underlines Shapiro’s inadequacy in playing the political game effectively, a factor that may hinder his vice-presidential prospects.
Republicans also protest his handling of sexual harassment accusations against legislative aide, another stain on his political record. These are valid reasons for reservations about Shapiro’s candidacy as Harris’ running mate. While it could be seen as political disagreement, these incidents are indicative of potential pitfalls should he become the Democratic vice-presidential nominee.
There’s been chatter among some Republicans about Shapiro possibly declining an offer from Harris, based on the premise that it could jeopardize his future presidential ambitions. A tweet from Pennsylvania’s Republican Representative Russ Diamond echoes this sentiment. Such speculations hint at Republicans’ desire to undermine Shapiro’s potential contributions to the Democratic ticket.
However, such attempts to disparage Shapiro inadvertently underscore the influence he could wield on the ticket, despite all the criticisms against him. Yet, his nomination seems more like a potential challenge for the Democrats than a game changer. The revelation of these stances should remind voters that political landscape is complex, nuanced, and oftentimes, quite poker-faced.