Staff Reports
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s hopes of landing the vice presidential gig have taken a nosedive faster than a lead balloon. After what insiders are calling a meeting that could only be described as lackluster with none other than Vice President Kamala Harris, Shapiro seemed to lose interest quicker than a kid with a broken toy. Those familiar with the situation claim that the interaction left advisers grimacing and searching for a silver lining that just wasn’t there.
My work here in Pennsylvania is far from finished — there is a lot more stuff I want to get done for our Commonwealth.
Over the next 90 days, I look forward to traveling all across the Commonwealth to unite Pennsylvanians behind my friends Kamala Harris and Tim Walz and defeat… pic.twitter.com/Mkc1isQTo9
— Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) August 6, 2024
The stakes for Shapiro were high, but evidently not high enough to convince him to abandon ship on his gubernatorial responsibilities. As if that wasn’t enough to raise eyebrows, Harris took the opportunity to announce her pick for a running mate: Minnesota’s own Governor Tim Walz. Instead of tapping into Pennsylvania’s electoral goldmine, Harris opted for Walz, who, despite being a low-key kind of guy, might manage to resonate with Midwestern voters. Was she playing it safe or just smartly sidelining Pennsylvania?
REPORT: Josh Shapiro Lost Interest In VP Spot Hours After Meeting With Kamala https://t.co/2jMJjl3Qb6
— Brian Craig 🇺🇸 (@BrianCraigShow) August 7, 2024
Walz’s rise wasn’t some elaborate undercover operation; it was a straightforward choice. He’s a former schoolteacher and congressman with a reputation that caters to the progressive base. Now, whether that’s a recipe for success on election day remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: it signals a strategic gamble by Harris to revitalize the Democratic core rather than just schmooze the usual crowd in battleground states.
The results leave Shapiro feeling like a contestant who almost made it to the big dance. The story is that his interview with Harris did not have the fireworks they were hoping for, which likely led to his plight being swiftly overshadowed by Walz’s selection. Shapiro cited his unfinished business in Pennsylvania, opting not to abandon his state, but did he really have much of a choice after that lackluster meeting?
Political pundits are already weighing in, with some suggesting that Shapiro’s pro-Israel stance made him too controversial for a Democratic ticket seeking to play nice with progressive factions. Walz, meanwhile, appears to be a much safer option, able to navigate potential minefields without tripping over any sensitive issues like, say, foreign policy. It’s a classic case of needing to keep the base happy, even if it means sidelining a high-profile governor. The question lingers: did Harris make the right call, or has she just handed Pennsylvania over on a silver platter to the GOP?
