Harris’ Ineffectual Event in Atlanta Mocked as Kelly and Shapiro’s Strength Endures
A significant potential obstacle in Kelly’s selection rested on his paralysis with labor legislations. His unresolved attitude made labor leaders doubt his capability, putting his selection in jeopardy. Additionally, Shapiro was earning the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Despite being the only Jewish candidate on the list, his identical stance like others on topics such as the Israel-Hamas war and his critical approach towards Benjamin Netanyahu earned him a negative reputation; lumping him in with hardcore advocates of the Israeli government.
Shapiro’s position continued to attract concerns whether he could trigger a wave of protests similar to Biden, over his continuation of military support to Israel in the Gaza war. The internal factions were divided in their support for Kelly and Shapiro, and while chaos ensued, Walz was in the unique position of having backing from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Harris, sharing Pelosi’s Democrat background, insisted she held no preferences and did not influence the presidential candidate’s choice of running mates.
However, inside sources painted a picture of a deep bond between Pelosi and Walz. Pelosi’s recent private conversation with Biden about stepping down, combined with the unique closeness with Walz, hinted at her influence behind the scenes. Speculation also arose within the Harris camp questioning Shapiro’s capability as a public speaker, considering his commanding performances compared to Harris, who received mixed reviews as a public speaker over the years.
Stealing attention last week, Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania resident and rival to Shapiro, warned team Harris about Shapiro, painting him as an ambitious political opportunist rather than a dedicated member. Despite the discussions, both Shapiro and Kelly remained strong competitors, this façade continued especially when Cooper declared on July 29 from North Carolina that he chose not to be considered for the position.
Harris’ spectacular event in Atlanta the very next day, with approximately 10,000 audience members, played a pivotal role as Walz was celebrated for his unique messaging, and his reputation as a serious contender could no longer be disputed. On the same day, the campaign shared an ambitious multi-day battleground state tour plan by Harris and her yet to be determined partner. The first stop of this tour was Philadelphia, in Shapiro’s home state, which sparked off more speculation in favor of the governor being the prospective choice.
Regardless, Harris’ team continually insisted no decisions were made. The United Auto Workers officially endorsed Harris’ presidential bid the next day, but expressed their excitement for potential contributions by Beshear and Walz. They expressed their disinterest in endorsing either Shapiro or Kelly due to reasons best known to them revealed by sources who wished to discuss the details on condition of anonymity.
After an intense round of vetting, which ended last Thursday with Holder and Remus, a selection panel of Harris’ closest advisors began the process of interviewing prospective candidates. This special squad included Marty Walsh, the former Labor Secretary, senior advisor Cedric Richmond, and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada. Holder, Remus, O’Malley Dillon, and others presented their findings to Harris at her official residence in Washington on Saturday.
Like her tedious preparation for court cases and Senate hearings, Harris delved deep into the materials under discussion and explored her options with the team. Meanwhile, campaign aides kept busy working on their outreach strategies. On one hand, while Harris was busy analyzing her choices, on another, Shapiro, Kelly, and Walz were invited for in-person interviews at her residence.
Walz’s interview stood out among the three, with his conversation with Harris extending for 90 minutes. His impressive records as a House member, governor, and his unique backstory before his political career; his roles as an Army National Guard noncommissioned officer, public school teacher, and high school football coach seemed to have impressed Harris.
Kelly seemed to fade from contention first, and Shapiro’s potential risks became a part of the general assessment. Shapiro was clear after the interview that he was hesitant about being Harris’s running mate, as he felt there was more he could do leading the commonwealth, and committed his support to her and the ticket.
Although Harris warmly accepted Walz’s ideas, she wished to take more time before sealing her decision. As Harris continued to deliberate, her team was actively preparing for multiple possibilities. Harris’ indecisiveness did not waver even after a good night’s sleep; she woke up the next morning confident about Walz being the right choice.
By Tuesday, Harris seemed resolved to make the difficult calls to the finalists, including Shapiro and Kelly, to inform them about her decision to go in another direction. According to Bakari Sellers, the co-chair of Harris’ 2020 Democratic primary bid, Walz won her trust and was believed to be the better choice as her running mate.
Much to the amusement, Walz wasn’t quite ready for Harris’s call. He neglected her first call showing up as a restricted number. But when Harris called him again, he answered, and Harris invited him with an enthusiastic ‘Let’s do this together. Would you be my running mate and let’s get this thing on the road.’