Vice President Kamala Harris is set to announce her running mate on Tuesday, Aug. 6, during a rally in Philadelphia, marking the first major event of her campaign since becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
The announcement will kick off a four-day tour across key swing states, including stops in western Wisconsin, Detroit, Raleigh, Savannah, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
This campaign swing underscores the Harris campaign’s belief in a broadened electoral map following President Joe Biden’s unexpected exit from the race.
The detailed itinerary, according to Politico, highlights the strategic importance of these states for the upcoming election.
Philadelphia’s selection as the starting point has sparked speculation about Harris’s choice for vice president, with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro being a top contender.
Shapiro, hailing from the Philadelphia suburbs, could be a strategic pick given Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes and its diverse electorate. However, a campaign aide cautioned against overinterpreting the significance of the location.
Harris has not yet finalized her choice for running mate. She plans to interview potential candidates in the coming days, with other names in contention including Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Shapiro has been actively campaigning for Harris in Pennsylvania, a potential indicator of his interest in the vice-presidential role.
He recently participated in a Harris rally with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and other campaign events.
While Shapiro has not confirmed any formal discussions with Harris about the vice-presidential position, he praised her as “a tough-as-nails prosecutor” and criticized Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio.
