Moments ago, we reported the names of five politicians being vetted by the Harris campaign as potential running mates.
Here we take a closer look at who they are:
Mark Kelly
The senator has been elected by a key battleground state, Arizona.
He has a compelling background: A veteran and former NASA astronaut who represents a state bordering Mexico, giving the Democrats more authority on immigration issues.
Mr Kelly, 60, co-founded a gun safety advocacy group with his wife, former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who survived being shot in the head during an assassination attempt in 2011 that killed six people and injured 13.
Gretchen Whitmer
A Michigan governor, Ms Whitmer has quickly established herself as a prominent figure within the Democratic Party in the two decades since she graduated law school.
The 52-year-old, now co-chair of the Harris campaign, had been pushing the topic of abortion access in the same role for the Biden campaign.
She blames Donald Trump for fuelling the political hatred that motivated a plot to kidnap and kill her that was foiled by the FBI in 2020.
Like Mr Kelly, Mrs Whitmer hails from a swing state.
Josh Shapiro
“Get shit done” is Josh Shapiro’s slogan for how he says he wants to govern Pennsylvania.
Another rising star in the Democratic Party, he is seen as one of a handful of governors who has been building their national profiles and positioning themselves for a 2028 run for the White House.
Mr Shapiro, 51, maintains decent approval ratings across the aisle, having enjoyed a relatively high level of support from Republican voters in his 2022 election.
Once again, he comes from a crucial swing state, the delivery of which would be a huge asset to the ticket.
Roy Cooper
He’s the governor of North Carolina and, if you’re sensing a theme here, you’re right – it’s a swing state.
North Carolina was seen as an uphill battle for Joe Biden, with polls showing its voters favoured Donald Trump.
But Mr Cooper, 67, has won praise for winning relatively strong approval ratings in a state that has only elected one Democrat in a presidential election since 1976.
He has a history of strong support for the Biden-Harris administration and has form on abortion rights – which could become a key issue in the election.
Last year, he vetoed legislation that would have banned nearly all abortions in his state after 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Tim Walz
While he doesn’t have the name recognition of some other contenders, the Minnesota governor has been tipped by at least one congressional representative.
Betty McCollum, elected to the House by the same state, suggested Ms Harris needs a “strong Midwestern running-mate” like Mr Walz.
Mr Walz, 60, who co-chairs of the rules committee for the Democratic National Convention, maintained strong support for Mr Biden despite his shaky debate performance last month.
Source link : https://news.sky.com/story/joe-biden-drops-out-kamala-harris-democrats-donald-trump-latest-live-sky-news-blog-13177655
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Publish date : 2024-07-23 10:37:34
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