Will Harris choose Shapiro? Pa. Gov. reacts to speculation
Now that Vice President Kamala Harris is the frontrunner to potentially be the next Democratic presidential candidate after President Joe Biden, there is a lot of talk about who she might select as her vice presidential candidate for the 2024 election.
Harris arrived at Biden's campaign headquarters in Delaware on Monday, but she has not given any clues about whom she will choose. Despite this, experts have suggested potential candidates, such as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Shapiro was questioned about the rumors during a speaking engagement in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Monday.
"I'm not going to speculate," Shapiro stated. "The Vice President's selection of a running mate is a personal choice that she will make when she is ready. She must choose someone she can lead with and campaign alongside. It should be someone she trusts and feels comfortable with, without any political influence."
Shapiro continued by stating that his main priority right now is concentrating on his responsibilities in Pennsylvania.
Governor Shapiro's Political Journey
Shapiro, who is 51 years old, is currently in the middle of his second year as the governor of Pennsylvania. He won his last election convincingly by defeating a far-right candidate who was endorsed by Trump.
Shapiro has also stood in for Biden, supporting the president on TV shows, and has a lot of experience criticizing Trump. He first did this as state attorney general and now does it as governor.
He has successfully won three elections across the state - two as attorney general and one as governor. His campaign style is carefully planned and controlled, giving voters a more subdued option compared to the state's bold political figure, Senator John Fetterman.
In his role as governor, Shapiro has started to show a more relaxed and straightforward attitude, moving away from a polished public persona. During a recent interview on MSNBC, he boldly stated that Trump needs to stop complaining and criticizing America.
Shapiro, who practices the Jewish faith, has strongly addressed what he saw as anti-Jewish sentiment emerging from pro-Palestinian protests and has expressed support for Israel's efforts to combat Hamas.
He strongly supports abortion rights in Pennsylvania and frequently shares his successes in court against Trump, including defeating challenges to the 2020 election results.
He has established himself as a moderate when it comes to energy issues in the second-ranking state for natural gas production, and emphasizes the importance of working together across party lines in the state's politically divided government.
Vice President Harris spoke publicly for the first time since President Biden decided not to run for re-election in 2024. She thanked him for his dedication and service to the American people.
Shapiro's Pennsylvania Connection
Even though Shapiro was born in Kansas City, Missouri, he has strong connections to Pennsylvania, especially Montgomery County. He was raised in Upper Dublin Township, Pennsylvania, and now resides in Abington Township.
People who live in Montgomery County discussed the chance of one of their own being chosen as a Vice Presidential candidate in an interview with NBC10.
"I really admire Josh Shapiro and I believe he has the potential to run for president in the future. However, I don't think everyone is as familiar with him as we are," stated Ed Friedland of Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, in an interview with NBC10.
No matter who Harris ends up picking, Michelle Gill, who lives in Upper Dublin's Dresher neighborhood, is happy that someone from her town has already achieved a lot in politics.
"I think it's great," she stated. "The Upper Dublin and Dresher area is lively and full of history. It's nice to know that someone so dedicated to helping the community came from this area."
