I think Kelly would calm the center as much as Shapiro, but without alienating pro-Palestinian youth voters and Muslim voters in Michigan.
Imo, Shapiro is the worst of the finalists. He brings baggage that the others don’t.
I think it’s a given that the Harris campaign will have “enough” money to run between now and November. More is always good, sure. But if they lose it won’t be the result of insufficient fundings. Adding voters, on the other hand, (even a “small number”) is likely to be outcome determinative.
What does the VP do that requires a lot of experience? If Trump can be president I kinda feel like anyone can and VP is an even lower bar. And Buttigieg is probably the smartest guy in most rooms. Certainly up there.
Also, Buttigieg is probably the best communicator the Democratic party currently has. He can go on Fox News and embarrass them all day. Not many others can do that.
The job doesn’t require experience, but it does if taking over the presidency, or the perception that one is ready to take over in an emergency. It’s one of the reasons that I thought Vance was a lousy pick; does that guy really inspire confidence should he be vaulted into the Oval Office? I don’t think so. He looks like he’d wet his pants in a crisis.
Just a gut feeling, but I think a little gravitas is needed to be a solid VP pick. Otherwise, I’m a fan of Mayor Pete.
I guess the R’s don’t really care about that aspect of the job, since Pence didn’t really inspire confidence, either. But that might be because they are so enamored by Trump. All they care about is getting their cult leader into office. Perhaps they’d care more about the sudden ascension of the VP if they had a more traditional candidate.
Yeah, i hope it’s not Shapiro. I’m afraid he could lose the election by alienating Arab voters who are upset about the US stance in Gaza, and also dissuade people who are “uncomfortable” with Jews from voting.
NY Times article on the VP options from Today:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/30/us/politics/kamala-harris-vp-pick.html
Yes, being pro-Israel is one thing, but equating peace demonstrators with the KKK…that’s an extremely potent attack line for Kremlin-funded propaganda to turn off young progressives.
That’s kind of how I’m looking at it. I’ve been Team Kelly, but Team Walz seems equally good now that I have learned more about him.
The more I see, the more I like Walz. But both Walz and Kelly seem pretty good from my perspective.
The VP choice process will go like this:
[1] Selection of VP (very soon),
[2] Execution of Selection/Campaigning (Aug - Nov), and
[3] Results of Election (Nov 5).
If the VP is not my choice or someone I dislike or whatever, I will hold my comments until we get the election results. Prior to that, I will only focus on the positive things I truly like about the VP. I do not think it will be helpful for me to negatively comment on the selection during Aug - Nov prior to the election results - the results probably being a not insignificant indicator of whether it was a good selection anyways.
I’ll do this because winning is so important and internal arguing before the results is not helpful to winning, nor my health. The time to argue who it should be or not be is now. After the catastrophic debate last month, I watched Kamala Harris immediately get on live TV and (somehow) defend Biden and his performance very well. That’s my role model here.
They both seem very good but they both suffer from looking like another old, white guy. I get they are the same age as Harris (near enough) and not old but optics matter when Biden had to leave for basically that reason.
I’m not fighting against them as choices. I think they are good. Just pointing out a potential problem.
Funny, I think Walz looks older or avuncular I’ve seen a few times.
Kelly looks tough and I think that plays well against the false bravado of Trump and counters Vance really well. Kelly looks younger than Walz but their age is almost identical.
I guess the potential upside is - locks down PA. But I dunno whether that is enough to outweigh giving the right a (bullshit) talking point.
Last weekend I was at a music jam, and one guy asked me my opinion about Kamala’s candidacy (not something I wanted to discuss at a jam.) Unsolicited, he said he was Jewish, and hoped she did not choose a Jewish VP. Just unnecessarily brings in another issue. Just one anecdote…
Wait - does the Constitution specifically say it has to be ONE person as VP? Maybe it will be Kelly, Shapiro AND Walz in three-way job share 
.
“Hey Mark, you think you can run down and cast that deciding vote for the judge nominee? I forgot I’m having brunch with Princess Beatrice today.”
“Sure thing Tim! I’ll let Josh know I’ve got it covered.”
I will be happy with Kelly, Walz or Beshear. I’m certain it will be one of these three.
Shapiro is far too much of a risk for exactly the reason’s mentioned in the quoted post. Choosing him could easily be the reason Harris loses.
Walz was on Pod Save this week. I listened to his interview and I may have a little bit of a political man-crush on him now. He’s a good communicator.
It really isn’t that long. Biden only stepped down 8 days ago, and it took a couple of days for it to be clear Harris was definitely going to be the candidate. It just seems like forever as US politics is a batshait helter skelter ride right now.
The discussion is a non issue. Its huge for stressed online politics nerds like us, but I’d bet it barely registers among the people who are going to decide this election.
They both look old to me, and they look about the same age. But they also both look tough and vigorous. I don’t think it was age as much as “he’s starting to look feeble” that hurt Biden. I’m comfortable with either.
Seriously. On paper I love Kelly. In person I love Walz… but I also kinda love him on paper too. Which means I think I may be leaning toward Walz.
But then again Walz is no Mike-Ehrmantraut-looking astronaut, and unfortunately image does matter nowadays. So, man, I’m just glad this decision isn’t mine to make.