2024-08-06 03:20:02
WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to reveal her vice presidential pick Tuesday, ahead of their first rally together in Philadelphia in the evening, according to two sources familiar with the plan.
These people cautioned that the timing of the announcement is still subject to change based on when Harris makes her final decision or whether there’s a media leak that impacts the current plan.
The rollout Tuesday will likely look similar to past major announcements, including digital video and social media components, as well as a fundraising appeal, these sources said. The Harris campaign will also disseminate various text messages to its supporters throughout the day, as has been a common practice in the past around big moments. The exact details are still being hammered out.
The highly anticipated decision comes after Harris met in person Sunday with three of the contenders who have been under consideration as her vice presidential pick — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — a source familiar with the meetings said.
Other candidates who have been on the vetting list include Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Former Attorney General Eric Holder, who led the vetting process for Harris’ campaign as part of his role as senior counsel at Covington and Burling LLP, was seen at the vice president’s residence at the Naval Observatory on Saturday and Sunday.
Two sources familiar with Harris’ thinking said she needs and wants to find someone who will be comfortable following the lead of a woman and particularly a Black and Indian woman. That running mate will need to be comfortable taking on tasks they may not like (like how Harris took on the root causes of migration) and will need to be comfortable being in Harris’ shadow as her running mate.
Harris’ team is aware that she got this nomination in an unconventional way and allies want whoever she chooses to be loyal and not seek to undermine her position now or come 2028.
A source familiar with the campaign’s thinking said the campaign is particularly interested in someone who will appeal to demographics and the voters that Biden would have brought to the table including older white voters and suburban women.
Aides to Harris also would like the running mate to appeal specifically to white men who don’t like Trump but who may question whether they want to vote for a Black and South Asian woman.
“Let’s just face it. There’s a lot of sexist, racist white dudes out there in America who don’t like Trump, but just need a little extra validation,” the person said. “And, bringing one of the people mentioned onto the ticket helps validate her among those constituents.”
Another source said: “She needs a middle aged or maybe even slightly older white guy who’s got experience, and who brings credentials in a different way. Someone who gives moderate Republican voters a place to go, like the Haley voters that are like, ‘God JD Vance is terrifying and Trump is horrifying, but I wasn’t really sure that Biden could do the job and I’m not sure that she can do the job.”
The Tuesday night rally was expected to kick off a five-day, seven-state battleground state tour with Harris and her running mate. A planned event in Savannah, Georgia, scheduled for Friday is being postponed due to Tropical Storm Debby, two campaign officials said.
On Friday, Harris secured a majority of support as part of a virtual roll call from Democratic National Committee delegates needed to win the party’s nomination for president.
Democrats are set to kick off their national convention in Chicago beginning Aug. 19.
