Vice President Kamala Harris spent this past weekend interviewing the top contenders on her VP shortlist, meeting in person at her Washington, D.C. home with Govs. Tim Walz and Josh Shapiro, and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.
It was just 16 days ago that President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, and Harris and her vetting team, led by former Attorney General Eric Holder, were operating in a truncated time frame. The vetting team initially cast a wide net, with more than a dozen people in consideration. That list quickly got shorter, with nine people being formally asked to submit vetting materials.
It’s a process that is extensive and one that would typically take months – but Holder, along with his vetting team led by former White House counsel Dana Remus, campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, campaign chief of staff Sheila Nix, and Harris’s brother-in-law Tony West – wrapped up their work on Friday, turning it over to Harris for a final decision.
Harris met with her vetting team on Saturday and was provided with extensive briefings on each candidate under consideration. She would then interview her top choices.
Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally with and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at Girard College, on Aug. 6, 2024, in Philadelphia.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Following Harris’s interview with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, there was a sense among Shapiro’s team that the meeting did not go as well as it could have, sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News. Later Sunday, after the interview, Shapiro placed a phone call to Harris’ team, indicating he had reservations about leaving his job as governor, sources said.
Walz, on the other hand, had an indication Monday evening that he would be chosen as Harris’ running mate, sources familiar with the matter said.
Harris came to her decision on Monday and told a small group of staff, sources said. She did not place a phone call to Walz until Tuesday morning.
Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States, recently announced her selection of Tim Walz as her running mate. This decision was not made lightly, as Harris and her team carefully considered a number of factors before ultimately choosing Walz to join her on the ticket.
One of the key considerations in selecting a running mate is their ability to complement the strengths and weaknesses of the presidential candidate. In this case, Harris is a seasoned politician with a background in law enforcement and public service. Walz, on the other hand, is a former teacher and military veteran who has served as the Governor of Minnesota since 2019. His experience in education and the military brings a different perspective to the ticket and helps to broaden its appeal to a wider range of voters.
Another important factor in selecting a running mate is their ability to help the presidential candidate win key battleground states. Walz’s presence on the ticket could help Harris secure votes in the Midwest, where he has strong support among both Democrats and independents. This could be crucial in a close election, where every vote counts.
Additionally, Harris likely considered Walz’s track record as Governor when making her decision. His handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota has been widely praised, and his leadership during this crisis could be an asset to the ticket as they seek to address the ongoing public health and economic challenges facing the country.
Ultimately, the selection of Tim Walz as Kamala Harris’s running mate reflects a careful and strategic decision-making process. By choosing a candidate with a different background and set of experiences, Harris has shown that she is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that can effectively address the complex issues facing the nation. As the campaign moves forward, it will be interesting to see how Harris and Walz work together to make their case to the American people and secure victory in November.
