Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is in the final stages of selecting her running mate.
The decision, which would normally come after months of research and interviews, has been condensed to just a matter of weeks after President Joe Biden decided last month to forgo his reelection bid.
Before presidential nominees make their decision, myriad factors can come into play. Lawmakers from swing states are usually at the top of the list. Gender and racial considerations — with an eye on moving the needle with a critical voting bloc — can also be factors. And personal chemistry can also make a major difference.
But in a recent CNN interview, Rep. Adam Schiff, a former Intelligence committee chairman and a Democratic Senate candidate in California, said he believed that chemistry would be less of a factor for Harris as she finalizes her eventual choice.
“She will recognize that she’s in a tough race, and she needs to pick the best running mate that will help her win,” he told the network. “I think it’s going to be less about who does she have the best chemistry with and more about who has the best chance of helping the ticket.”
CNN pointed to a conversation that Biden reportedly had with former President Barack Obama in 2020 when the former vice president expressed some concern that he might not have as close of a relationship with Harris as he did with Obama after a testy 2020 primary process.
According to the report, Obama told Biden that prior conflicts weren’t nearly as relevant as picking someone who could help him defeat Trump in that year’s election.
Biden chose Harris, and the president has credited the move as “one of the best decisions” he’s made.
Harris’ vice presidential shortlist has been narrowed down to Govs. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, JB Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Tim Walz of Minnesota, as well as Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Many Democrats are pushing Harris to select Shapiro or Kelly due to their popularity in key swing states, while Beshear has been lauded for his background as a former state attorney general.
Many see Walz, a former teacher and ex-congressman, as a candidate who can effectively speak to rural voters. Meanwhile, Pritzker is viewed as a business-savvy governor who can rally base voters. And Buttigieg, a former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and 2020 presidential contender, has long been touted as a future Democratic Party leader.
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