# Harris VP choice as she is the official presidential nominee of the Democratic Party for 2024 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** kamala-harris\ **Created:** [July 21, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552 "2024-07-21T19:06:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 39
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/763 "2024-07-30T21:18:25Z")
I wonder if the final selection will just come down to the number of skeletons in the closet. Those should all come out during confidential interviews with the candidates and will (probably) never be known to the general public. When the announcement is made, everybody will speculate on the reasoning without all of the information the campaign had. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/764 "2024-07-30T21:20:00Z")
Build the Walz? I do still like the sound of Harris-Kelly, but Harris-Walz is all right. Not as smooth to say, but good. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/765 "2024-07-30T21:24:01Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > and Vance was- I really don’t think there is ANY need to offset Vance’s military experience. I’ll throw into the mix today that it is, after today, looking very likely that Israel and Lebanon will spiral into a full out war. Which has the potential to pull in Iran. Does anyone think that possibility might influence what message Harris wants to signal with her choice? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/766 "2024-07-30T21:25:58Z")
An interesting look at Walz’ military service. > **['Citizen soldier' Walz honed leadership in uniform](https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/10/03/tim-walz-national-guard-career-minnesota-governor-race)** > > Democrat Tim Walz's 24-year military career is a central part of his background and style as he runs for Minnesota governor. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/767 "2024-07-30T21:27:38Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I really don’t think there is ANY need to offset Vance’s military experience. Trust me, if the Dems nom Shapiro, the MAGAs will _'trump_et" loudly and constantly their veeps military experience. They will have to wait until the pick is made, mind you. > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > I don’t think a lot of voters care about military experience; IIRC, before Vance nobody with a military background had been on a major party ticket since 2008, and that didn’t end well. And even fewer are going to break it down by rank and combat status. OTOH, “Astronaut” is certainly a more impressive credential than “generic veteran”. Sure, but you remember the GOP propaganda machine will latch onto anything. Yes on Astronaut, but combat veteran is also good. Also the military vote is not small. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/768 "2024-07-30T21:58:17Z")
Lol the military isn’t going to suddenly vote dem based on the VP pick being a vet or not. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/769 "2024-07-30T22:42:03Z")
And even if the dem VP is a vet they’ll go after him anyway, just like Kerry. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2024, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/770 "2024-07-30T23:49:16Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > Lol the military isn’t going to suddenly vote dem based on the VP pick being a vet or not No one thinks “the military”, or any other large segment of the electorate, are going to flip from Republican to Democrat based on who Harris picks for VP. On other might there be a handful of veterans in the swing states who might go from Democrats who probably won’t turn out, to Democrats who will because they see a career a military guy on the ticket who looks and sounds like them? I can see that, and that could swing it. That’s the calculation Harris’s people are doing right now. And I hope they are being ruthlessly cold hearted and calculating about it, without any thoughts of principles and policies. I don’t envy them the task, there is a lot at stake, the stressing and overthinking we are are doing as random folk on Internet is I am sure multiplied a thousand fold for them. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/771 "2024-07-31T00:46:09Z")
I like the earlier suggestion of appointing his brother, Scott. (I’ve got a signed copy of his book, BTW.) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/772 "2024-07-31T02:58:19Z")
Politico is reporting that Kamala will begin campaigning with her VP choice in Philadelphia: [https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/30/harris-first-rally-running-mate-tuesday-philadelphia-00171999](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/30/harris-first-rally-running-mate-tuesday-philadelphia-00171999) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/773 "2024-07-31T03:10:56Z")
That matches a Monday announcement, which is what fills have been predicting. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/774 "2024-07-31T03:17:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Walz was a Command Master sergeant- that sort of very senior NCO will help. But Kelly saw combat. Shapiro was never in the Military, and Vance was- so I think he is out. He was a CSM, Command Sergeant Major. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/775 "2024-07-31T03:23:18Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Politico is reporting that Kamala will begin campaigning with her VP choice in Philadelphia: > > [https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/30/harris-first-rally-running-mate-tuesday-philadelphia-00171999](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/30/harris-first-rally-running-mate-tuesday-philadelphia-00171999) Check out post #755 for the NYT mention of this. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/776 "2024-07-31T03:31:22Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > He was a CSM, Command Sergeant Major. Oops, I misread. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/777 "2024-07-31T11:56:11Z")
It’s interesting that reading the posts here have made me feel like I’ll actually be kind of disappointed if it’s Shapiro, given the arguments I’ve seen about what he brings to the table. I’d also feel less safe as a resident of PA if we lost him. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/778 "2024-07-31T12:04:33Z")
> [@illoe](#): > > I watched the Shapiro speech above and had a sort of uncanny valley feeling, like he was doing an impression of Obama. I’m from the west, though— is that the way every Midwest politician speaks? No. Talking to a Philadelphia Black audience, Shapiro seemed to me to be speaking with a slight local accent he would not use elsewhere. Philadelphia mayor Cherelle Parker, who was involved if we are both talking about the same speech, is about as conservative as you can be and still be a Democratic Party politician in good standing, so she is not going to complain about cultural appropriation. But he may need to avoid doing this elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/779 "2024-07-31T12:42:55Z")
Doubling back to any need to consider a compare and contrast with Vance - One thing that has to be made as clear as possible (given the sensitive context of a recent assassination attempt) is the number one job of the VP is being who you feel comfortable can take over in a crisis. Age and health related Vance has a good chance of having to do that. Pounding in how solid and experienced and _ready_ any of these top choices are in comparison to a very inexperienced and much derided by all Vance who was chosen solely for his skill as a bootlicker, will be a win. And is a way to emphasize Trump’s age as well without dissing Biden. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/780 "2024-07-31T13:23:58Z")
Yeah, reading this thread makes me feel good about the Democratic bench. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/781 "2024-07-31T13:34:02Z")
I dug up a document written by an associate of Pete ( but not requested by him, apparently) going over the candidates. It does suggest him as the best choice, but makes some good points about the others IMHO. [https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1sdHPxhRYkDdXiY6QlP1TIwhD1VWnhb\_LtMx\_ll4eNjs/mobilebasic](https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1sdHPxhRYkDdXiY6QlP1TIwhD1VWnhb_LtMx_ll4eNjs/mobilebasic) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/782 "2024-07-31T13:45:59Z")
I’m wondering when the pick will leak. Announcing on Monday, hopefully Sunday night? I’m not kidding that I’m cool if she picks Kelly, Shapiro, or Buttgieg. My only concern would be Buttgieg costing votes due to being gay. I still think that would drive right-wing maniacs to a new fury. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552.md?page=38) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552.md?page=40)