PHILADELPHIA – During a news conference announcing Vice President Kamala Harris as the up-to-date Democratic presidential candidate, Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Sharif Street said he was “offended” by comments the Democratic state treasurer candidate made that seemed critical of Gov. Josh Shapiro.
On Tuesday evening, Erin McClelland, the Democratic candidate for treasurer, posted on social media support for North Carolina Governor Roy Cooperwhile not entirely veiledly attacking Shapiro.
“I want a VP candidate who is confident enough to be second to a woman, will be content to be VP, and will not undermine the president’s decision to maneuver his own choices, and will not sweep sexual harassment under the rug. I want someone who can speak to rural voters. That’s @RoyCooperNC,” McClelland wrote, the first in a series of posts criticizing the state party and Shapiro.
On Wednesday, Street defended Shapiro.
“Look, everybody’s entitled to their opinion,” Street said. “I certainly think Vice President Harris, whoever she chooses, we’ll support her, she’ll do a great job.”
“But I will tell you, I am offended by this… this post,” Street added. “I am personally offended and I will speak to our candidate for Treasurer, separately.”
Shapiro’s office did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Street continued to promote Shapiro’s accomplishments as leader of a divided legislature, noting that both chambers of the legislature are led by women: Interim Senate President Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) and House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia).
Shapiro, Street added, has demonstrated an effective ability to work with women. “So any suggestion to the contrary is deeply offensive.”
Street added that he thinks Shapiro would be a great vice president.
McClelland did not respond to the Capital-Star’s request for comment.
Shapiro’s former legislative secretary, Mike Vereb, resigned last year amid sexual harassment allegations. The governor’s office paid $295,000 in public money to settle the complaint against Vereb.
A group of female Republican lawmakers announced plans last year to introduce legislation to overhaul sexual harassment laws in state government.
State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia), who is running for Auditor General, also said he thinks Shapiro would be an “incredible choice” for vice president, but said he thinks Harris knows what she’s doing and will make the right decision when choosing her vice presidential candidate.
Despite McClelland’s disagreement, Democrats at Harris’ campaign office on Wednesday overwhelmingly supported the candidate at the top of the ticket.
“There is no doubt who our nominee will be,” Street said.
Wednesday’s news conference was the Pennsylvania Democrat’s first since President Joe Biden announced he would not seek a second term and endorsed Harris. Pennsylvania’s Democratic delegation voted unanimously support on Monday Harris and received commitments from enough delegates to secure the party’s presidential nomination.
Kenyatta praised Harris for her past and said her experience as California attorney general, U.S. senator and vice president had prepared her to lead the party in November.
“Vice President Harris wants to continue the work of the Biden-Harris administration, not only to ensure that medical debts are not counted on your credit report, but to actually cancel them,” Kenyatta said.
The street has slammed Ohio Senator JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, for comments he made taken during the RNC last week about a gun lying around his “mom’s” house when he was growing up.
“Well, in this community, kids find loaded guns and die,” Street said, insisting it was no laughing matter.
In his speech, Street also made the case against AR-15 rifles and criticized the Trump administration for overturning Roe v. Wade.
Kellan White, a senior adviser to the Harris campaign in Pennsylvania, said that while the banners at the office have changed, the campaign is ready to make the case for Harris in the election.
Even though polls showed Biden lagging behind Trump in Pennsylvania before his withdrawal from the race, White said he believes Biden will be an asset to the Harris campaign as it campaigns in Pennsylvania, pointing to the reception he has received at campaign events in recent weeks in the Keystone State and beyond.
Speakers also said enthusiasm has increased since Harris was nominated while criticizing Project 2025, calling it a cautionary tale of what could happen during a second Trump term. Trump recently distanced himself from the plan. at the rally, although it was by former officials of his administration.
Republicans have largely united in their opposition to Harris’ Democratic presidential bid. Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick, who is trying to unseat Democratic U.S. Senator Bob Casey, has already published an ad linking Casey to Harris.
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ballnational rating agency, rated the presidential race in Pennsylvania as “uncertain.”
