LOWER GWYNEDD TWP. — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer rallied Democrats at a suburban Philadelphia high school as Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign entered its first full week on Monday.
Shapiro and Whitmer, Harris’ vice presidential candidates, told the crowd of more than 1,000 at Wissahickon High School that Harris’ presidency would build on the achievements of President Joe Biden, who withdrew his reelection bid July 21 amid failing confidence in his physical fitness and a growing number of Democratic leaders calling for him to step down.
Governors of key swing states recalled Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s time in the White House as an era of less freedom, fewer jobs and more chaos, warning that a second Trump presidency with his running mate JD Vance would be worse.
“Trump and Vance want us to go back, but we won’t go back. Our answer is simple: Hell no,” Whitmer said, leading the crowd in a call-and-response. “Do we go back to less freedom? Do we go back to cronies and crooks who help themselves at our expense? Do we go back to dangerous extremists?”
“Of course not,” the crowd replied.
Shapiro said Trump’s few successes included filling the Supreme Court with three conservative justices before the high court overturned Roe v. Wade, the ruling that established a national right to abortion 50 years ago.
He did it when he had no idea how to be president. And there were still a lot of guardrails around Donald Trump when he was president four years ago,” Shapiro said. “That same Supreme Court — his buddies that he put there — just ruled that the rule of law does not apply to Donald Trump.”
While Biden’s decision to step down at the end of the presidential election cycle is risky, many at Monday’s rally said the decision has injected recent energy and enthusiasm into the Democratic Party.
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk told the Capital-Star that Harris’ campaign has a clear vision for the future, building on the successes of the Biden administration, with a focus on reproductive and women’s rights.
“We feel good. The level of enthusiasm is indescribable and I’m just riding the wave,” Tuerk said.
Shapiro, who is still halfway through his first term as governor, emerged as the frontrunner for vice president in the week that Biden withdrew and support for Harris as the Democratic nominee surged.
Like Whitmer, Shapiro is a popular governor in one of several key swing states that are crucial to the presidential race because of their relatively gigantic electoral vote count.
They are among several Democratic governors, including Tim Walz of Minnesota and Andy Beshear of Kentucky, who have been identified as robust candidates to balance Harris’ profile. U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, who had a high-profile career before politics as an astronaut and Navy captain, would also complement Harris.
Still, Pennsylvania is seen as a key swing state in 2024. Voters in the Keystone State elected Biden in 2020 and Trump in 2016 by similarly slim majorities.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro would bring a battleground state and political savvy to the national election
Shapiro has a winning record in state elections, winning two terms as state attorney general in 2016 and 2020. He defeated Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano in 2022 by a landslide. And a Fox News poll of Pennsylvania voters last week showed Shapiro’s approval rating at 61%.
His high profile as a potential vice-presidential candidate also led to scrutiny of his previous support for school vouchersthis environment and sexual harassment scandalat the beginning of his term of office.
Rally attendees told the Capital-Star they were open to many of the people mentioned as potential Harris vice presidential candidates.
Amanda Baker of Pottstown said her “dream vice presidential candidate” would be Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, but added she was not convinced voters nationwide would accept a woman of color and a gay man on the same presidential ticket.
Charles Snippert, a retired professor and principal in the Pottstown School District, said Shapiro would be his first choice for vice president, noting that he played a key role in negotiations with the Republican-controlled state Senate to craft a budget with a record escalate in funding for public education.
“We are encouraged that … they are starting to restore aid to reasonable levels,” Snippert said, adding that Pottstown is set to receive about $1 million in additional funding this year. “I think Mr. Shapiro deserves a lot of credit for working out a compromise.”
Robin Allen-McKinnon of Plymouth Meeting said that while she is a fan of Whitmer and hopes Biden will nominate her as his vice presidential running mate in 2020, Harris will have to be pragmatic about her choice.
“I think she probably needs to pick a white man. Just to balance the ticket,” Allen-McKinnon said, adding that a politically moderate pick like Shapiro would strengthen the ticket. She noted that Shapiro’s robust support in 2022 showed his broad reach.
“That’s significant, given how divided Pennsylvania is,” Allen-McKinnon said. “So I think if he can do that, then … I hope he can replicate that across the country.”
In endorsing Harris, Shapiro told the crowd Monday that the election will be a decision we make as a nation to come together and fight to protect freedom from those who would take it away from us.
“Kamala Harris’ name is going to be on the ballot, and I’m going to be pushing that button for Kamala Harris,” Shapiro said, adding that the election is not about names on the ballot.
“This is about all of us and what we are willing to fight for, what we are willing to work for and what kind of future we want to build for our children and grandchildren,” Shapiro said.
“I don’t know about you. I want a future that’s cleaner and greener. I want a future with better schools and safer streets. A future with more freedom, not less, and a future where I can look the 47th president of the United States in the eye and say, ‘Hello, Madam President.'”