Vice President Kamala Harris' Race to Choose a Running Mate Heats Up

Vice President Kamala Harris is in the final stages of selecting a running mate, interviewing six key contenders ahead of an upcoming tour of battleground states. Her candidate list includes notable political figures such as Governors Andy Beshear and J.B. Pritzker, and Senator Mark Kelly. The decision deadline is imminent, and President Joe Biden remains publicly hands-off, allowing Harris to determine her own criteria for the role.

Vice President Kamala Harris is in the final stages of selecting her running mate, interviewing six potential candidates this weekend. The high-stakes decision comes ahead of a formal announcement and an extensive battleground tour set to begin next week.

The shortlist includes Governors Andy Beshear of Kentucky, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Tim Walz of Minnesota, along with Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The information comes from two people knowledgeable about the selection process who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The selection process, which initially vetted about a dozen names, has seen some candidates voluntarily withdraw. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, for instance, opted out due to concerns about frequent travel. The deadline for Harris' decision is effectively Tuesday, coinciding with the start of her tour of seven key battleground states, beginning in Philadelphia.

President Joe Biden confirmed he has spoken to Harris regarding her vice-presidential search but publicly refrained from giving advice on the qualities she should seek in a running mate, stating, "I'll let her work that out."

Some shortlisted candidates, including Shapiro, have abruptly changed their weekend plans, perhaps signaling imminent developments in Harris' decision-making process. Shapiro, who canceled three fundraisers in Long Island, was speculated by some to be Harris' likely pick for Vice President.

A recent video by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, who is a known supporter of Shapiro, stirred further speculation by promoting Harris for President and Shapiro for Vice President. However, an insider claimed the video merely shows Parker's support for both Harris and her friend Shapiro.

(With inputs from agencies.)