The overnight buzz has centered around who will be the vice president nominee for the Democrats, assuming Kamala Harris is at the top of the ticket. Many suggest the individual be from a swing state.
This is who I received phone calls and emails about:
Roy Cooper
The North Carolina governor won in 2016 and 2020, even as former President Trump won the state during those same years.
Democrats have invested heavily in North Carolina this cycle, viewing it as a pickup opportunity in the race for president, given the rapidly growing suburban populations around Charlotte and Raleigh.
Cooper and Harris, both attorneys general, have had a “really good relationship” that continued into her time in the Senate, according to a 2020 CNN interview with Cooper.
Mark Kelly
The Arizona U.S. Senator is a former astronaut and the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, a victim of a 2011 mass shooting in Arizona, is another possible contender.
Kelly has won two elections in the key swing state, including a decisive victory in 2022. Trump has been leading Biden in polling in the key swing state.
J. B. Pritzker
The Illinois governor has been a top Biden campaign surrogate, but now he’s been floated as a possible Harris running mate given his rising profile within the party.
Pritzker, who has challenged Gov. DeSantis’ anti-woke agenda, is serving in his second term as governor. He has fiercely advocated reproductive rights, a central campaign platform for Harris and Democrats.
Andy Beshear
The Kentucky governor has gained national attention as a popular two-term governor in a deep-red state. He centered his 2023 campaign around reproductive rights, proving him to be an effective communicator on the key issue for Democrats.
Beshear, 46, is also one of the nation’s youngest governors, which, in an election where much has been made about the ages of the candidates could be a boost among young voters.
Gretchen Whitmer
The Michigan governor is another popular two-term governor from a key swing state.
Michigan is likely going to be key again in 2024 — but Democrats may face some challenges there given the backlash in the state to the Biden administration’s handling over the Israel-Hamas war. Whitmer could help win back some of these alienated voters.
If Whitmer is selected as Harris’ running mate, it would mark the first-ever all-women presidential ticket.
Josh Shapiro
The Pennsylvania governor easily beat Trump-backed Republican challenger Doug Mastriano in 2022 and has broad bipartisan appeal, winning support from even some Republicans in his state.
On WCOA “Real News” line-up this morning:
7:15 Ryan Wiggins, The Lincoln Project’s Chief of Staff.
7:30 Karen Travers, ABC News White House Correspondent
7:35 Jeff Nall, Florida delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Then, we will switch to local issues:
7:50 Karen Malek – UWF professor, chair of the Department of Chemistry and STEM Scholars Program
8:02 Bubba Peters, the next Escambia County Property Appraiser.
UPDATE: We’ve added ABC News Tom Rivers from London, who will report on European leaders’ reactions to the Biden’s dropping out. He will be on at 8:20 am
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