Vice President Kamala Harris is reportedly preparing to disclose her choice for a running mate on Tuesday morning. The announcement has been rushed over a span of just 16 days, revealing the frantic pace at which the Democratic Party finds its potential future leader. Lately, cracks within the party have been made evident from debates over labor rights to Israel’s contentious campaign in Gaza. Ms. Harris’s team, grappling with this hurried choice, found themselves overwhelmed with a deluge of unsolicited suggestions.
With only a few days to scrutinize potential nominees, the Democrats and progressive activists, as well as some of the prospective candidates, scrambled to sway Ms. Harris’s decision. At the epicenter of this chaotic process is Ms. Harris, who appears to have relied on the counsel of few close advisers, including previous President Barack Obama. Interestingly, she sought guidance for her vice-presidential pick from Mr. Obama, illustrating the hasty scramble to the Democratic presidential nomination.
Some hopefuls reportedly sought to endear themselves to influential acquaintances of Ms. Harris. In this game, the hope was that through some network, their credentials could reach Ms. Harris or her team. The frenetic process of choosing a vice-presidential candidate isn’t unusual per se, but the rush in Harris’s case stirred up a torrent of attempts at eleventh-hour persuasion. These attempts were either aimed at boosting the chances of front-runners or thwarting their rise.
The high stakes present here stem from the relatively shortened period for vetting and the ever-evolving nature of a campaign having to swiftly reorient to a Harris-centric operation. The decision ahead of Ms. Harris marks a significant moment in her political journey. Having served as state attorney general, senator, and vice president, she now holds her party’s future in her hands. High-profile Democrats have not shied away from expressing their preferences.
Murmurs have circulated about the preferences of Representative Nancy Pelosi, the once powerful House Speaker. Some fellow Democrats have voiced their support for Mr. Walz, a former House member. Nancy Pelosi, however, remained neutral in an exchange on CNN, stating that she is in favor of whoever Harris chooses. Representative Gerry Connolly expressed understanding for Pelosi’s allyship towards former colleagues, but emphasised that a working relationship between Harris and her chosen running mate is crucial.
The prominent candidates maintained a low profile on the day before the announcement. Harris, understanding the theatrical aspect of the vice-presidential selection, has prioritized the aspects of personal chemistry and trust in a running mate to aid her in governance. She is fully cognizant of the manipulative attempts within her party to sway a decision which fundamentally is hers to make.
Harris reportedly spent the preceding weekend interviewing a narrowed-down list of hopefuls and consulting with her intimate group of advisers. Among the top choices, Mr. Shapiro has met with stiff opposition from the progressive factions, whereas Mr. Walz, known for his relaxed humor, has been given serious consideration by influential party members. Senator Mark Kelly has also been touted as an adept fundraiser, having managed to secure victory in two challenging races in a critical swing state.
Ms. Harris has kept a close circle of key people around her as the announcement nears. She has her campaign chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon, her campaign chief of staff, Sheila Nix, chief of staff in the Vice President’s office, Lorraine Voles, her brother-in-law, Tony West, and a campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond.
Former Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., whose law firm oversaw the expedited vetting process, and Dana Remus, a former White House counsel for Mr. Biden, were also engaged in discussions about the selection. Harris’s approach, consistent with her professional persona, has been to probe her advisory team with persistent questions.
Interestingly, Barack Obama has also been in touch with Ms. Harris recently. Harris and Obama have a long-standing relationship dating back to when she supported his 2008 presidential campaign. However, over the past month, their interactions have heightened significantly. This unprecedented reliance on a former president further exposes the inexperience and poor judgement of the Democratic leadership.
Following her decision, Harris is expected to largely spend the next week making public appearances with her chosen running mate. Democratic donors in San Francisco received notice that she would host a fund-raising event in the city, according to sources. The frantic scramble of a process to identify a suitable running mate not only reflects the disarray within the Democratic party but also the lack of planning and foresight, which casts a shadow over the entire campaign.
Clueless Kamala Harris Rushes VP Pick Amidst Democratic Chaos appeared first on Real News Now.
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