Biden is out. He has endorsed Kamala Harris. But we still don’t know who the Democrats will pick to run against Donald Trump. Whoever it is, Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro will be considered as a running mate.
Here is our coverage of the Shapiro-Mastriano race.
Who is Shapiro? Here is Peter Hall and Kim Lyons at the Pennsylvania Capital-Star:
He’s only been Pennsylvania’s governor for a year and a half and just got his second state budget wrapped, but Josh Shapiro already had a national profile for some of the cases he prosecuted during his tenure as the state’s attorney general.
Shapiro is one of the people considered most likely to join the Democrats’ 2024 ticket with President Joe Biden dropping out of the race on Sunday. He leads a critical battleground state with 19 electoral votes up for grabs.
Shapiro had continued to support Biden publicly in the aftermath of the president’s poor performance in the June 27 presidential debate, saying the morning after on cable news morning shows that Democrats should “stop worrying” and “start working.” But that hasn’t stopped speculation — which Shapiro has largely dismissed — that he is destined for bigger things within the Democratic Party, whether it’s now or sometime in the near future.
On Sunday, Shapiro released a statement praising Biden’s long career in politics. “President Biden is a patriot who has served our country honorably in the Senate, as Vice President, and as one of the most consequential presidents in modern history,” he said in a post to social media. “President Biden has gotten an incredible amount done to move our country forward, defend our democracy, and protect real freedom. I am proud to work by his side and am grateful for his leadership and his unwavering commitment to delivering for Pennsylvania — the Commonwealth that raised him.”
Rising from a state House seat representing his hometown of Abington to the governor’s mansion, Shapiro built a reputation for being a hard worker and a skilled negotiator. And he has projected those attributes onto his administration’s brand with the slogan “Get S**t Done.”
“He’s had 20 years of being in government and that’s a lot of experience,” Neil Oxman, who served as a consultant for Shapiro’s first campaign.
Shapiro touts simple achievements in state government such as cutting the time to register a new corporation from months to days and flipping the state’s reputation for lethargic government by reopening Interstate 95, a crucial mid-Atlantic artery, in 12 days after a gasoline tanker crash last June destroyed an overpass.
And he offers grand designs for the future of Pennsylvania by reforming the state’s system of higher education, expanding workforce training and development opportunities and reinventing the commonwealth’s energy economy to meet carbon reduction goals while recognizing the role the state’s fossil fuel industries will continue to play for the foreseeable future.
Berwood Yost, director of the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College, said Shapiro’s approval ratings, his 2022 gubernatorial election win by a 15% margin, and record as attorney general all make him one of the most recognized political figures in the key swing states for Democrats.
“People view him as … a moderate commonsense Democrat who tries to get things done,” Yost said, adding that his profile among Democratic leaders is also strong.
“People wouldn’t be mentioning his name if he hadn’t already generated some buzz,” Yost said. “His brand is undoubtedly strong, particularly within the party, but it has the potential to be appealing to a broader swath of voters.”
Read the rest here.
Wish I knew more about Louisiana politics, would love to hear from someone who knows better, but how about former governor John Bel Edwards. Moderate Democrat, pro-lifer, able to work across the aisles with Republicans, (only 57, and West Point grad). Is that a fair assessment? Is he too pro-life for Democrats on the left (even though it could cause many defections from the Republican ranks and improve electoral chances)?
How about former Navy captain and astronaut, Mark Kelly, 60, currently an Arizona senator. Married to Gabby Gifford, maybe could get some real results on reducing the gun slaughter in America‘s streets. Have heard him speak once, appeared he would ably defend himself and undermine Trumpian lies.
Like that both have military service, helps negate what people are noting about Vance.
Several outlets are reporting that Mark Kelly is on the short list. I do think that John Bel Edwards is probably too conservative for Harris, especially since she has made abortion a major part of her profile as VP. I’d like to see Shapiro or Beshear.
Thanks for the reply, with more interesting possibilities that you name, that I will research further.
Please let me also submit Admiral McRaven, whose writings I have perused many years ago. He strikes me as having most, or all, of the ingredients necessary for the highest offices in the land. Do you have any thoughts about his qualifications and abilities?
I wish I did. I don’t much about the guy. Whatever the case, he does not appear to be on the shortlist.