Democrats can’t even seem to pick a vice presidential nominee without confusion.
On Friday, as we reported, someone working for the Philly Mayor Cherelle Parker posted a video, apparently, accidentally naming Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as the vice presidential choice.. According to reports, the video was supposed to be posted after Harris made her pick and there was a “firestorm” going on because someone screwed up with this.
Proud to be back with so many leaders from across our region supporting @KamalaHarris for President and @JoshShapiroPA for VP! We are One CITY, One REGION, and ONE Commonwealth United! @PADems @PhillyDems @Joanna4PA @PADemsChair @IBEW98 @RepHarris @PALaborers pic.twitter.com/Rh1ojbRjcr
— Cherelle Parker (@PeopleforParker) August 2, 2024
Now, that certainly looks like he’s going to be the choice. Who goes to all that trouble to make such a video otherwise?
READ MORE: Kamala Harris VP Pick Leaked by Incompetent Philly City Staffer
But now there are other reports that run counter to that. According to Reuters White House correspondent Jarret Renshaw posted after the Shapiro post that Harris met with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Friday on the VP position.
NEWS: Harris and @PeteButtigieg met today for about 90 minutes about the VP job, sources tell me. The meeting was not at Harris’s home in Washington.
— Jarrett Renshaw (@JarrettRenshaw) August 2, 2024
According to Reuters, Harris was meeting with others this weekend before she made her decision and said she was expected to make her choice by Monday. Other people being considered in addition to Shapiro and Buttigieg are Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. Some like Shapiro have changed their schedules for the weekend, perhaps indicating they would be meeting with Harris.
CNN Philly correspondent Danny Freeman posted that his source is saying the Mayor’s video just means the Mayor “supports Gov. Shapiro.”
FWIW, I was also told by a source close to the mayor, the video “just means [Mayor Parker] supports Gov. Shapiro.”
Wouldn’t be a national election without at least a few bizarre super-Philly moments.https://t.co/hwLTbRF3ob
— Danny Freeman (@DannyEFreeman) August 2, 2024
He also posted an explanation from one of the people “endorsing” Shapiro on the video, saying it was an “aftertake” meant as “kind of a joke.”
Also this @PhillyInquirer piece from @sbcmw takes the story out of the echo chamber surrounding Philly City Hall, and quotes the Bucks County Commissioner featured in the video.
“We did it as an after-take as kind of a joke,” she said. pic.twitter.com/vE4x2ZJE3M
— Danny Freeman (@DannyEFreeman) August 2, 2024
Bad joke, if it’s then posted, if it wasn’t true. If they’re trying to force Harris’ hand to pick Shapiro with a support video that would seem a bad move, that could very well force her to go in the opposite direction.
If it’s true, but they released it early, it could be they’re leaking out other things to keep the question out there so Harris isn’t completely undercut by the incompetence of a staffer. It also has the consequence of people dropping stories against Shapiro including the one about his governor’s office reaching a sexual harassment settlement concerning the alleged actions of a top aide.
The possibility had many on the left voicing why they don’t want him as the choice because among other things they think he’s supportive of Israel.
READ MORE: Dem Drops a Dime on Potential VP Pick Josh Shapiro, What Harris Does About It May Decide the Race
I think the money is still on Shapiro given the evidence, we shall see.
Either way, it’s “weird” and typical Democratic confusion over something that should be simple and straightforward.
