In the wake of Joe Biden’s hasty retreat from the race, Vice President Kamala Harris is frantically seeking a new right hand, someone to slot into the vice presidential role. This frantic scramble is expected to culminate on Sunday, yet it seems to underscore rather than assuage the panic within the Biden-Harris camp. Notably, Harris has extended invite to a few favorites – Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona, Gov. Josh Shapiro from Pennsylvania, and Gov. Tim Walz from Minnesota.
The meet and greet is scheduled to transpire at the Naval Observatory, Harris’s residence in Washington. It’s amusing to note that the event is being referred to as a ‘chemistry test,’ a sly nod to its finality and the weight Harris is purportedly assigning to it. Yet one cannot help but wonder if this is not just a desperate attempt to summon chemistry where there might be little.
Our well-placed sources point out that Senator Kelly, Governor Shapiro, and Governor Walz were each chosen on the basis of their ability to garner voter sympathies and bolster Harris’s chances. That two of the contenders hail from battleground states also appears to be a calculated move on Harris’s part. But then, we can’t really fault the California Democrat for trying, can we?
Each of the three aforementioned candidates comes with his own set of advantages and drawbacks. Senator Kelly, for example, is known as a moderate politician from a swing state, with immigration views that may help Democrats sidestep an issue that has repeatedly landed them in hot soup. His impressive CV only adds to his appeal even though his impact on Republican support is yet to be witnessed.
In contrast, Governor Shapiro is vastly popular within Pennsylvania, viewed by many as the saving grace for Democrats in what is likely a must-win state. Yet the criticism he faces for his pro-Israel stance and questionable management of campus protests relating to the war in Gaza certainly undermine his credentials. One wonders if Kamala Harris is ready to sidestep these issues or if her desperation will lead her to ignore them altogether.
As for Governor Walz, he is somewhat of an enigma, relatively unknown even within party ranks. Recent times have seen him gaining favor among progressives who appreciate his spirited rebukes of former President Trump on television. Minnesota, however, may not be the key to the White House for Harris, rendering his viability as a running mate questionable at best.
It’s interesting to observe the speed at which this process has evolved, starting almost immediately after Biden’s abrupt departure. A rushed, two-week vetting process conducted by Covington & Burling, a law firm from Washington, seems to be more of a panic response from the Harris camp than a strategy. It only further highlights the chaos left behind by Biden’s unexpected move.
On this chaotic backdrop, finalists for the VP spot were hurriedly briefed by Harris’s campaign advisers on findings, or lack thereof, presented by the firm. The uncertainty hanging over this entire process only reveals the disarray following Biden’s sudden exit. They are expected to learn of their fate either by Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Harris’s approach appears more reactive than proactive, as she moves to announce her choice before embarking on a national tour. Ironically, she plans to showcase unity and strength during a cross-country tour with an ally picked at the last moment. The first stop of this ‘unification rally’ is expected to be Philadelphia on Tuesday.