WASHINGTON — Doubts continue as the announcement of Vice President Kamala Harris’ choice of running mate nears — the process has been in her hands since Friday, an insider tells ABC News.
The review, led by Attorney General Eric Holder and his team at the law firm Covington and Burling, has ended and the process has been turned over to Harris, the source said.
Harris is expected to announce his choice on Tuesday evening, when he and his running mate will appear together for a rally in Philadelphia, kicking off a multi-day battle for battleground states.
They will make stops in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.
News that the process has entered its final stages was first reported by the New York Times.
All eyes are now on their potential running mate — a combination of governors and one senator. Sources confirmed to ABC News that Harris’ investigative team met with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz, and Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has canceled plans to spend the weekend in the Hamptons, ABC News has confirmed. It is currently unclear what his weekend schedule entails.
RELATED: Pa. Gov. Shapiro to meet with DC’s Kamala Harris before next week’s Philly meeting
In a press conference after Friday’s bill-signing ceremony in Pennsylvania, Shapiro dodged a series of questions about his running mate’s performance.
“I think any questions about that kind of activity should go to the Harris campaign,” Shapiro said when asked if he had met with Harris.
When asked what he would bring to the presidential ticket, he said, “I will not engage in those kinds of speculations,” he said.
But when asked if he would be in “Philadelphia on Tuesday” — when Harris is scheduled to make his campaign debut with his running mate — Shapiro replied, “I hope to be.”
RELATED: Who is Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro? Here is a glimpse of his political career
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also canceled another item on his Friday schedule amid speculation that he might run.
Asked by The Daily Show host Jon Stewart on Monday if he was being investigated, Buttigieg laughed and said “maybe.”
Appearing on ABC’s “The View” on Friday, Buttigieg was more circumspect: “I’m glad he’s being talked about in this context, and he’s a very important choice, and he’s going to make the right choice for his. for the campaign ticket, but most of all, for the country.”
Sen. Arizona’s Mark Kelly told MSNBC on Wednesday that he “will not get involved in any of that. I will focus on making sure Kamala is the next president.”
He noted that his wife, Rep. Former Gabby Giffords campaigned for Harris in recent days in Michigan and Pennsylvania, but said, “next week, my plans right now are to be in Arizona.”
RELATED: Sen. Who is Mark Kelly, Harris’ potential Vice President?
Appearing on MSNBC Thursday night, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said “I can’t talk about the conversations I’ve had about that.”
When pressed about whether that suggested there were talks and what they were, Pritzker said, “Well, naturally people have called me to talk to me about the possibility of of the vice president. I won’t say who those people were or talk about those conversations.
What about his weekend plans? Pritzker sweetly replied: “Lollapalooza is happening this weekend here in Chicago… I’ve heard some governors talk about how they canceled their plans for the weekend. But I canceled to get off the schedule.” mine.”
Walz also declined to comment directly on the controversy, telling reporters on Thursday, “I’m not discussing anything. I’m just being who I am, and putting it out there,” he added. in that the decision is Harris’s. .
In a tongue-in-cheek aside later, he added, “I don’t know if every high school geography teacher expects to be in this position at some point, but it’s really amazing to run over ‘a treadmill and have people talking. about things, and I shout again, this man is very old.”
Another candidate for vice president, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, gave a stump speech at the Oklahoma Democratic Party dinner Thursday night, praising Harris as someone who “will take us into the future.”
“As he said, ‘let’s not go back.’ Or as I say, ‘let’s go back,'” he added.
President Joe Biden — who endorsed Harris’ presidential bid shortly after he dropped out of the race — has not suggested who Harris might choose.
As he left the White House on Friday, Biden said “yes” when asked if he had spoken to Harris about his partner.
“I’ll let him work it out,” Biden said when asked what qualities Harris should look for in his nominee.
When asked who Harris should vote for, Biden did not answer and laughed.
Copyright © 2024 ABC News Internet Ventures.
#Vice #President #Kamala #Harris #find #running #mate #choice #hands