# 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:** 50
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/983 "2024-08-02T21:09:07Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Can’t have Pete, or another woman, on the ticket. One woman, and a woman of color at that, is pushing it enough. Fine, I’m convinced: she needs a straight white male running mate, not Jewish, plenty of executive experience. Harris/Biden 2024! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/984 "2024-08-02T21:22:23Z")
Ha! I like Sen. Mark Kelly a lot - he’s smart and tough; would bring both military and astronaut cred to the ticket; the story of his wife, former Congresswoman Rep. Gabby Giffords, would enable him to persuasively argue for stronger gun-crime laws; and he could tip the scales and quite possibly deliver Arizona for the Dems. At this point, I really don’t see any downside. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/985 "2024-08-02T21:34:18Z")
I don’t hate that idea. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/986 "2024-08-02T21:38:14Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > …Dems need to reach progressives…no, just no, just NO! Pritzker gladly signed the bill legalizing marijuana in Illinois. He is _not afraid_ to rip Trump to shreds, and his leadership through the pandemic was an example for all other governors. Harris could make far worse choices than to select Pritzker. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/987 "2024-08-02T21:44:32Z")
And from what I’ve read, labor loves him. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/988 "2024-08-02T21:56:01Z")
To be honest, I have varying opinions of how much I prefer various candidates on Kamala’s list, but I don’t actually object to any of them. As long as it’s not some surprise that has never been mentioned, I don’t think I’ll be disappointed. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2024, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/989 "2024-08-02T22:18:50Z")
Again, not arguing for Pritzker, but I highly doubt that the Harris campaign feels that the greatest weakness needing support is with support from progressives. “The Squad” is strongly behind her and I have heard nothing from them criticizing any of the shortlist. She needs progressives. And she needs all of the Democratic coalition to come out in high numbers. And she needs to attract some unengaged voters. And she needs some centrists. And she needs to not drive up turnout from the Right. The first is not the weakest link item. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/990 "2024-08-02T22:45:48Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > > > Can’t have Pete, or another woman, on the ticket. One woman, and a woman of color at that, is pushing it enough. > > Fine, I’m convinced: she needs a straight white male running mate, not Jewish, plenty of executive experience. > > Harris/Biden 2024! I like it. He just helped her bring home some prisoners being wrongfully held by Russia. The head of trump would explode. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/991 "2024-08-02T23:09:00Z")
Well, I was suggesting that Pritzker was no enemy to progressives. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2024, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/992 "2024-08-02T23:28:22Z")
Oh I agree. And I still dispute the position that having someone who most excites progressives is what matters most in this choice. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2024, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/993 "2024-08-02T23:32:16Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Shapiro has also been more critical of Netanyahu than any of the other VP hopefuls (AFAICT, anyway), and Kelly attended Netanyahu’s speech (unlike many other Democrats). While I think some of Shapiro’s statements could reduce his appeal to critics of Israel’s conduct, I think that’s also true of the other possibilities. You keep trying to defend him. But if I have the impression that he’s a strongly pro-Israel hawk, and if a respectable magazine like _Salon_ publishes an article suggesting that Shapiro would be a significant liability to the Harris campaign, and if a big contingent of peace activists have condemned him, doesn’t it stand to reason that a lot of voters might feel the same way? Why pick someone with that kind of baggage when Harris has so many other choices, many of whom I can see energizing the campaign instead of potentially dragging it down? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/994 "2024-08-03T00:25:51Z")
They all have some baggage. If they didn’t, they’d be picked in a second. I’m unconvinced any of them necessarily have baggage that is worse than the others. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/995 "2024-08-03T01:26:04Z")
Ok. Can you name the baggage for the other 5? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/996 "2024-08-03T01:44:15Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > So far they aren’t making a lot of errors. > [@flurb](#): > > Analysis paralysis is real, and every single candidate mentioned has potential strengths and weaknesses Actually, I think not announcing tomorrow is an error. One of the knocks (among many) against her in her first primary campaign was a failure to make tough calls and pick a path forward. She’s beginning to flirt with that same narrative, at least to me. She needs to buckle up and make a pick. The rest of the country has already moved on and, within my circle of GOP-leaners, all the talk now is about Trump’s appearance at the journalist’s convention. She’s lost control of the headlines and needs to get it back NOW, not Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/997 "2024-08-03T01:55:58Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > She needs to buckle up and make a pick I do agree that it would be a good idea to make it the lead story this weekend (at least in time for Sunday morning). ---
**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:** [August 3, 2024, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/998 "2024-08-03T02:02:16Z")
I had thought the prisoners exchange would hold news cycle attention longer. If it isn’t then yeah they should announce sometime tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/999 "2024-08-03T02:24:15Z")
Looks like an old story about Shapiro has surfaced in which he claims to have volunteered in the IDF… except he didn’t: > **[Josh Shapiro U-Turns Over Old Story He Was Israeli Army Volunteer](https://news.yahoo.com/news/josh-shapiro-never-served-israel-003306567.html)** > > Gov. Josh Shapiro once wrote in an op-ed for his college paper that he “was a past volunteer in the Israeli army.” ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1000 "2024-08-03T02:29:37Z")
[Did [Philadelphia Mayor] Cherelle Parker leak that Josh Shapiro is the VP’s VP?](https://whyy.org/articles/josh-shapiro-cherelle-parker-instagram-video-vice-president/) I read her statement from the get-go as an enthusiastic endorsement, not a prediction. Googling, I’m not finding a similar push, for Mark Kelly, from Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego. Or did I miss it? ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1001 "2024-08-03T02:39:40Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Can’t have Pete, or another woman, on the ticket. One woman, and a woman of color at that, is pushing it enough. A white male astronaut is just what the doctor ordered. Their attempts to smear him would be humorous. Thank you. I don’t feel entirely great at agreeing, but seriously? Two women? Gah! In today’s USA with reliable computers in our pockets is not ready for a two-woman ticket. And who, of the dopey-shit minds who love Orangeboy have a problem with a former Navy captain, pilot, astronaut senator at the helm? He’s the safest, and inspiring ---
**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:** [August 3, 2024, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harris-vp-choice-as-she-is-the-official-presidential-nominee-of-the-democratic-party-for-2024/1004552/1002 "2024-08-03T02:53:04Z")
Yeah an article that he wrote when he was twenty, over 30 years ago, calling a service project on an army base serving in the IDF. I don’t think that will factor in as too heavy of baggage. But with the strength of the competition? Anything can tip the balance! [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=49) [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=51)