In retrospect of the 2024 elections, it appears Pennsylvania’s governor, Josh Shapiro, dodged a political bullet by not allying with Kamala Harris. Unknowingly, Tim Walz, selected as Harris’s runner, enabled Shapiro to sidestep what would become a less than admirable political association. A recent book disclosure sheds light on how Shapiro narrowly escaped an ill-fated political partnership with the Harris team.
The book details the skewed process of Harris’s vice-presidential selection, aiming less for a governance partner, and more for a subordinate who wouldn’t compete with her power or hamper her objectives. This perspective painfully highlights a core flaw of the Harris campaign, overvaluing submission instead of gauging for merit or effectiveness that could inadvertently outshine the candidate.
In the course of Harris reviewing potential running mates, Shapiro’s meeting with her left an unfavorable impression. The book cites, ‘He came across as overly ambitious, pushing Harris to define what his role would be…’, indicating that Shapiro was not thrilled about being reduced to merely an echo of Harris, a forethought promptly dismissed by Harris.
Josh Shapiro, a politician conscious of his value, asked significant questions about a role that might define his political trajectory. This self-awareness was viewed negatively, further highlighting the Harris campaign’s preference for blind loyalty over question-asking candidates with a backbone. The misguided focus on Shapiro’s ambition illustrates the campaign’s error of mistaking reasonable self-interest for excessive ambition.
While claims circulated that the Jewish Shapiro was too pro-Israel to suit the ticket, the authors of the book convincingly argue that this wasn’t what disqualified him. In fact, his views were in line with the Biden administration’s and other vice-presidential suitors. The issue was more straightforward than initially rumored: Shapiro wasn’t willing to be anyone’s lapdog, even if it came at political cost.
Upon following up with Harris’s team to express ‘further reservations’ about relinquishing his role as Pennsylvania governor, Shapiro was not stalling or showing indecisiveness. Instead, he demonstrated a clear understanding of the political game, recognizing that playing a subservient role in Harris’s destined-to-fail campaign would be nothing short of a career blunder.
Shapiro’s decision now appears prescient. Maintaining control of his political career, he is laying solid groundwork for his future, independent of unsuitable influences. His recent appearance at the Energy and Innovation Summit validated his value as a leader, not as someone’s mere assistant. Working with both sides, Shapiro secured substantial energy investment, ensuring Pennsylvania’s economic future.
As an attorney general, Shapiro earned himself credibility by going after a construction company that swindled $20 million from its workers in the infamous Hawbaker case. His aptitude for championing causes that affect everyday people is a testament to his leadership – a quality some Democrats thought Harris’s ticket dearly needed but unfortunately missed.
Although only 51 and considered a moderate counterweight to the perceivedly liberal Harris, Shapiro struggled with image issues. Some insiders felt he tried too hard to emulate Barack Obama’s oratory charisma, bordering on mimicry. Recently, however, he has been working to shed the obvious Obama-inspired influences, reflecting his desire to establish himself as an independent persona.
There are other challenges that Shapiro confronts. At the energy summit, observers noted that he appeared taller, possibly wearing height-raising inserts. For a man who stands only 5’6″, he would be the shortest president since James Madison if he aimed for the presidency. Coupled with issues related to transparency in handling official assignments, these could be potential stumbling blocks in his political journey.
Despite these minor hurdles, Shapiro’s future is in his control. If he had aligned with the Harris ticket, his credibility could have been forever tarnished by a campaign that refused to acknowledge its own strategic blunders. Instead, it blamed shortcomings on global inflation and a rushed timeline, avoiding an internal look at their own failings.
The book notes an interesting reveal. Of all the candidates, the other political campaign feared Shapiro the most. When they thought Harris and Shapiro would be making the VP announcement at their farm, a Pennsylvania family withdrew their invitation upon realizing it would be the other vice-presidential contender, not Shapiro.
As the dust settles, it’s clear that Shapiro made an astute career move by distancing himself from the Harris campaign. His dogged commitment to self-integrity and an acute political savvy allowed him to escape a political debacle. Democrats eager for a revival come 2028, might turn to Shapiro, finally acknowledging his political acumen and potential.