Harris Set To Name VP Pick Ahead Of Swing State Tour

AFP/APP

Washington: Kamala Harris is set to announce her vice presidential running mate as early as Monday, preparing for a tour of key battleground states aimed at converting excitement over her presidential bid into sustained support.

All paths to the White House converge on a few crucial swing states, and Harris will start her five-day tour on Tuesday in Pennsylvania, the largest of these battlegrounds.

This tour is part of her strategy to build momentum for her campaign as she faces Republican Donald Trump in the general election on November 5.

Harris recently secured enough delegate votes to clinch the Democratic nomination, making her the first female, Black, and South Asian vice president. She heads into the national convention in Chicago in two weeks with complete control of her party.

Despite the campaign being just two weeks old, Harris has already set new fundraising records, attracted large crowds, and dominated social media. She has managed to overcome Trump’s previous polling leads, which had been significant before President Joe Biden exited the race.

Harris’ next major step is to select her vice presidential nominee, with an announcement expected before her rally on Tuesday evening in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania is a critical battleground state and part of the “blue wall” that helped Biden win the presidency in 2020. Harris will also focus on Michigan and Wisconsin, where she plans to campaign on Wednesday.

The shortlist for Harris’ vice presidential pick includes several prominent figures: Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania and a leading contender; Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota; Andy Beshear, Governor of Kentucky; Mark Kelly, Senator from Arizona; and Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

Later in the week, Harris will visit racially diverse Sun Belt and Southern states, including Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, and North Carolina, to solidify support from Black and Hispanic voters who have been drifting away from the Democrats.

A month ago, Trump seemed to have a strong lead in swing state polls following a poor debate performance by Biden. However, Trump’s campaign was significantly disrupted when Biden, addressing concerns about his age and polling numbers, exited the race on July 21 and endorsed Harris.

Energetic and younger than Trump, Harris has rapidly advanced her campaign, raising $310 million in July more than double Trump’s fundraising total. While Biden’s campaign had emphasized themes of civility and democracy, Harris has focused on “freedom” and the future.

Her campaign has been notably more aggressive, including mockery of Trump for avoiding a debate and criticisms of his credibility. Although Harris has not given a detailed interview since launching her campaign, her upcoming rallies are expected to provide more insights into her plans.

Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign has struggled to adjust their strategies, initially attacking Harris as too liberal and later questioning her racial identity.