As the 2024 presidential election progresses, the nation is eagerly awaiting the Kamala Harris VP pick. Today, Harris is the presumptive Democratic nominee of 2024 and will formally accept the nomination later this month during the Democratic National Convention. This turn of events comes less than one month after President Joe Biden parked his reelection campaign. Amid internal pressure from Democrats, Biden opted to step aside and endorse Harris. Since then, she’s quickly scooped up delegates and the media has been covering her campaign momentum as the “Harris honeymoon.” With the VP shortlist becoming a focal point, US elections 2024 predictions are now considering how Harris’ running mate could influence the final outcome.
This turn of events comes less than one month after President Joe Biden parked his reelection campaign. Amid internal pressure from Democrats, Biden opted to step aside and throw his endorsement behind Harris. Since then, she’s quickly scooped up delegates and the media has been covering her campaign momentum as the “Harris honeymoon.”
Moving forward, Harris’ running mate will have a pivotal role in this year’s election. In every presidential race, the nominees generally opt for running mates who bring advantages to the ticket and make them more likely to defeat their opponent. The vice president is expected to follow this course of action. Thus far, three names are on the projected shortlist as Harris is expected to announce her running mate as soon as this week.
The VP Shortlist
At any moment, the vice president is expected to announce her running mate pick. Thus far, she’s been meeting with potential candidates for vetting and interview purposes. Multiple reports also now indicate that the following Democratic leaders have made Harris’ shortlist.
Josh Shapiro
As the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, adding Shapiro to the ticket would come with many advantages. Seeing as he leads and maintains popularity in a vital battleground state, a Josh Shapiro VP could very well get Harris closer to the necessary 270 electoral votes in November. As the vice president considers her running mate options, Shapiro has been campaigning for her alongside Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Tim Walz
A Tim Walz VP pick would see the current Democratic governor of Wisconsin running with Harris, thus bringing with him a background that could potentially win over rural voters. Walz has spoken at length about the importance of bettering life for small-town Americans and bringing opportunities to various communities.
Mark Kelly
As an Arizona Democratic senator, a Mark Kelly VP pick would bring some tangible advantages to the Kamala Harris 2024 campaign. Kelly is a veteran, which could see some service members decide to vote on a ticket where he’s the running mate. The senator’s roots in Arizona could also prove to be helpful with Harris winning votes in this essential state come November.
Trump’s Criticism and Its Impact
As Trump criticizes Harris and vice versa, there’s no reason to believe this will change after the latter has selected her running mate. If anything, the Harris running mate pick will be used as ammunition by Team Trump to take various potshots.
The Democratic VP candidate can be expected to face scrutiny of their record, policies, and any prior controversies. Though in any presidential election, this is par for the course during the general race. Both sides take shots at not just the opposing party’s frontrunner, but also the running mates on the ticket.
With the possibility of a Harris vs. Trump debate still up in the air, it remains to be seen if the vice president’s running mate ends up debating GOP running mate J. D. Vance. Both campaigns are working hard to win over voters, get their message to the American people, and dissuade folks from voting for the opposition.
Once the Kamala Harris VP pick has been confirmed, the pair will begin to campaign across the nation. Harris is expected to target multiple battleground states where polls show her and the former president as neck-in-neck with one another.
In various interviews, Trump has criticized Harris’ leadership, experience, and her handling of certain issues – namely immigration – during her time as the vice president. Harris, on the other hand, is painting Trump as a dangerous candidate. She also asserts that Trump and Vance pose serious threats to democracy and aim to roll back the clock on various societal gains.
Potential Outcomes for Harris’ Campaign
The Democratic VP candidate will have a huge impact on Harris’ campaign, for better or for worse. Right now, the vice president will benefit from a contender who is able to reach moderate voters, Independents, swing voters, and even some anti-Trump Republicans. Each of these demographics is crucial, as no presidential candidate can ascend to the White House with only the votes from their own party.
As Team Trump insists that Harris campaign trouble is underway, the vice president argues that her candidacy for the White House is “people-powered.” Her campaign has also been seeking donations, releasing ads, and hosting various events across the country to boost voter engagement.
At the end of the day, the Kamala Harris VP pick will either come with major advantages or it’ll drag down the ticket. On social media, everyday Americans are weighing in with their thoughts about whether Shapiro, Walz, or Kelly would ultimately be best as Harris’ running mate.
US Elections 2024 Predictions and the Impact of the VP Pick
As of today, only three months remain before the American people head to the ballot box and determine which candidate they want to lead the country. Over the next 90 days, the country may see a debate between Harris and Trump. There’s also a possibility that Vance will debate whichever contender lands on the Democratic ticket.
Over the weekend, news broke that the Harris campaign is launching a Republican outreach program. This is specifically geared towards GOP voters who backed former UN ambassador Nikki Haley during the Republican primaries and aren’t thrilled with Trump as the nominee.
The Harris campaign likewise put out a statement saying that Republican voters have a place under their umbrella. Naturally, Team Trump is not pleased about this at all. On social media, some Republicans have expressed that the outreach to conservative voters is merely another indicator of Harris’ campaign trouble.
At the end of the day, time will tell which Democrat becomes the Kamala Harris VP pick and whether or not this choice gets her across the finish line in November.
Which candidate do you think will join the vice president as her running mate?
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