Josh Shapiro was 'not a No. 2,' source says of VP vetting process; Kamala Harris narrowly leads Donald Trump in recent national polls
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will campaign in Wisconsin and Michigan today. So will JD Vance, while Donald Trump did a phone interview on Fox News.
Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly named running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, held their first joint rally Tuesday at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
In selecting Walz as her vice presidential nominee, Harris passed over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a decision impacted by personal and political factors. Still, Shapiro gave a rousing speech at the Philly rally.
Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance also campaigned in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Both the Harris and Trump campaigns have more stops scheduled in battleground states.
Josh Shapiro is 'not a No. 2,' source says of VP vetting process
There were signs from the very beginning that Josh Shapiro might not have been the best fit for the No. 2 role, a factor that also played out in his interview and vetting, according to people with knowledge of the process.
In his interview with Harris’ team, Shapiro asked a lot of questions about the role and what it would entail. “He was trying to like, interview her back,” one person with knowledge of the process and Harris’ team’s reaction to it said. “He’s not a No. 2, he just didn’t fit the assignment.”
But those who know Shapiro said his thoughtfulness is also what has made him a successful leader. He’s methodical. He does his homework.
The biggest moments from the day Philadelphia was the center of the political universe
A random Tuesday in August will go down in political history as a day for Philadelphia to remember.
In the morning, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance swooped down for an unconventional rally-merch sale hybrid largely focused on bashing Vice President Kamala Harris. Just hours later, Harris jetted into town to unveil Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate in front of an energetic crowd at Temple University’s Liacouras Center. The exuberant rally kicked off a multi-battleground state tour and marked Harris’ first campaign appearance since officially becoming the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.
The two events in Philadelphia underscore the importance of Pennsylvania and its 19 electoral votes. In some polls of Pennsylvania voters taken before Walz’s pick, Trump maintains a narrow lead, while Harris wins in others.
Where did the ‘Tampon Tim’ Walz nickname come from? We explain.
Depending on who you ask, the nickname Republican operatives have given Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — “Tampon Tim” — can be seen as an insult or a compliment.
The title, which has been used by former Donald Trump adviser Stephen Miller and other conservative-leaning critics, originally stems from a law that Walz signed surrounding access to menstrual products.
The school safety bill requires Minnesota public schools to provide menstrual products, including pads and tampons, to students in fourth through 12th grades.
Josh Shapiro is used to winning. But losing out on VP is hardly a defeat.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro didn’t get the job, but the last three weeks were quite the resume booster.
Shapiro, already a national figure, catapulted higher as he became a top contender for Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.
While the process included a public vetting of the Montgomery County Democrat’s positions and airing of grievances from his detractors, the news cycle was largely focused on his strength in a critical swing state and unbroken record of winning elections, amounting to what those who have followed his rise say was a net positive for his political stock.
The story behind that photo of Tim Walz and Josh Shapiro at a Bruce Springsteen show
In his first speech as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate on Tuesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz knew how to win over Philadelphia audiences: name-dropping The Boss. In praising Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a “treasure,” Walz said, “I know this from experience. There is no one you would rather go to a Springsteen concert in Jersey with than him!”
The line prompted cheers of “Bruce” from the crowd at Temple University’s Liacouras Center (though Philadelphia son Jake Tapper seemingly mistook the reaction for “boos”).
“Holy hell can this guy bring the fire,” Walz said about Shapiro. “This is a visionary leader. Also I have to tell ya, everybody in America knows, when you need a bridge fixed, call that guy.” Though Harris chose Walz over Shapiro for her VP pick, Shapiro also spoke at the rally on his home turf as a campaign surrogate.
Harris shuts down chants of 'lock him up' in Eau Claire
Harris has during recent events tried to tamp down the chants of “Lock him up. Lock him up,” a mantra crowds have appropriated from similar chants that Trump campaign audiences in 2016 used in reference to Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Harris motioned with her hands in Philadelphia on Tuesday to avoid the chants.
Today, she had a new comeback for the group, as she referred to herself and Walz as “joyful warriors.”
Walz takes the stage in Eau Claire to Bruce Springsteen's 'Born to Run'
Walz is taking the stage to Bruce Sringsteen’s “Born to Run,” at a campaign rally in his neighboring state of Wisconsin, and he’s offering a bit of Midwestern kinship.
“Hello, Eau Claire. Isn’t it nice to have a candidate who can pronounce the name correctly?” Walz said.
Walz is a former south central Minnesota U.S. House member and is appearing with Harris in the city of Eau Claire, which is a key target for the Democratic ticket and just a little more than 80 miles from his home in St. Paul.
Vance and his wife take ice cream break following stop in Wisconsin
JD Vance and his wife, Usha, stopped for a sweet treat as they left the battleground state of Wisconsin.
At Olson Ice Cream, they were greeted by dozens of cheering supporters, many of whom had blue Trump campaign signs.
Usha Vance got a scoop of Mackinac Island Fudge, her husband said, while JD Vance ordered Mocha Mud Pie.
Is the viral camo Harris-Walz hat inspired by Chappell Roan? Either way, it sold out.
To the untrained eye, a freshly listed piece of Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign merch seems like, well, just a hat.
But fashion experts and pop culture enthusiasts say there’s deeper meaning behind the now-viral camouflage hat with orange embroidery.
After Harris announced Tim Walz as her running mate, Democratic pockets of the internet celebrated the selection, pointing to Walz’s policy track record — along with his dad jokes and Midwest charm.
Kamala Harris, JD Vance in Wisconsin: Watch live
JD Vance tried to speak to Kamala Harris on the airport tarmac in Wisconsin
Sen. JD Vance (R., Ohio), Donald Trump’s running mate, made a short detour during a campaign stop in Wisconsin to visit Kamala Harris on Air Force Two, which was parked on the same tarmac at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport.
Vance told reporters he didn’t speak with Harris, but “wanted to go say hello to the vice president and ask her why does she refuse to answer questions,” according to Semafor’s Shelby Talcott.
Vance is shadowing the Harris campaign over the next couple days as she travels to battleground states alongside her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Vance held an event in Philadelphia Tuesday ahead of Harris’ rally, and again this morning before a Harris-Walz event in Detroit.
'I get to do it on my terms': Shapiro speaks about remaining governor, not joining Harris ticket
Gov. Josh Shapiro loves his job in Pennsylvania — and that he gets to set his own agenda.
Shapiro, just a day after he was passed over to be Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, subtly acknowledged reports that he and Harris had different views of what a vice president’s role should be.
“This was a deeply personal decision for the vice president. It was also a really, deeply personal decision for me,” Shapiro said. “And I love what I do. I love that I get to do it on my terms.”
Shapiro's hometown rabbi rejects notion he wasn't picked as VP because he's Jewish
In the final moments of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s speech at the debut joint rally for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz at the Liacouras Center Tuesday evening, Shapiro quoted the Pirkei Avot, an ancient text of Jewish ethics: “No one is required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it.”
Shapiro largely dedicated the end of his speech — his first since being passed over as Harris’ running mate — to showing his pride in his Jewish faith and its intersection with public service.
“I want to just say this,” Shapiro said. "I lean on my family, and I lean on my faith, which calls me to serve, and I am proud of my faith.”
Harris narrowly leads Trump, according to two major polling averages
Kamala Harris has taken a small lead over Donald Trump in national polls, according to averages done by RealClearPolitics and FiveThirtyEight.
The polling was done prior to Harris selecting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.
In the RealClearPolitics average of recent national polls, Harris had taken a narrow half-percentage-point lead over Trump, 47.4% to 46.9%. While Harris’ lead is slim, it’s notable because Trump was ahead by three percentage points when Joe Biden dropped out of the race on July 21.
JD Vance mocked over Philly event mistake
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, better known as IATSE, joined those on social media mocking JD Vance over a set mistake at an event in Philadelphia Tuesday.
Vance, making his first trip to the city since being selected as Donald Trump’s running mate, delivered remarks at 2300 Arena in South Philly in front of a backdrop that read “Kamala chaos.”
But supporters blocked out the word “chaos” from TV cameras, so it appeared at first glance Vance was supporting Kamala Harris and her campaign.
Donald Trump 'shocked' Kamala Harris didn't pick Josh Shapiro as her running mate
Donald Trump said he was “shocked” that Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate instead of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
During a phone interview on Fox & Friends Wednesday, Trump said he was “no big fan of Shapiro” but thought he would’ve have strengthened the Democratic ticket more than Walz.
Trump also suggested Shapiro wasn’t picked as Harris’ running mate because of his Jewish heritage and his support of Israel in the war in Gaza.
Trump suggests he's open to debating Harris on ABC after backing out
During a phone interview on Fox & Friends Wednesday, Donald Trump suggested he will debate Kamala Harris “in the pretty near future” but has yet to agree on a date or venue.
“It’s going to be announced fairly soon, but we’ll be debating her,” Trump said, without offering any further details. The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump backed out of a debate on Sept. 10 on ABC the two campaigns had agreed to before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. Harris said she would show up for that debate regardless of Trump’s plans, while the Republican presidential nominee proposed a debate on Fox News in Pennsylvania on Sept. 4.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz made his debut as Kamala Harris’ VP pick at a rally at Temple University
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz made his debut as the Democratic candidate for vice president Tuesday night at Temple University’s Liacouras Center, receiving a raucous reception with thousands of attendees wearing light-up bracelets like they were at a Taylor Swift concert.
“Minnesota’s strength comes from our values — our commitment to working together, to seeing past our differences, to always being willing to lend a helping hand,” said Walz, a former teacher. “Those are the same values I learned on the family farm and tried to instill in my students. I took it to Congress and to the State Capitol, and now, Vice President Harris and I are running to take those very values to the White House.”
Vice President Kamala Harris announced earlier Tuesday that she had selected Walz to be her running mate in the race against former President Donald Trump.
Harris campaign trolls Trump over Philly crowd sizes
After Philly events, Wisconsin and Michigan are next up for presidential campaign visits
Following stops in Philadelphia Tuesday, the campaigns of Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump will turn their attention to the Midwest.
On Wednesday, Harris is slated to appear in Eau Claire, Wis., for a campaign event with her newly announced running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Set to take place Wednesday afternoon, the stop is scheduled to feature an appearance from Grammy-winning indie folk band Bon Iver, which was founded by Eau Claire native Justin Vernon.
The Eau Claire stop will be one of several this week for Harris and Walz as part of a battleground state tour that the campaign announced late last week. The pair’s Tuesday stop in Philadelphia marked the beginning of that tour.
JD Vance attacks Democrats for treatment of Shapiro in first visit to Pa. as Trump’s running mate
In his first visit to Pennsylvania since becoming former President Donald Trump’s running mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance argued that Vice President Kamala Harris had bowed to her party’s left wing in choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
“When given the opportunity she will bend the knee to the most radical elements of her party, that’s exactly what she did here,” Vance told a crowd of Trump supporters Tuesday at the 2300 Arena in South Philly in remarks about the selection of Harris’ running mate.
Vance’s event came hours after Harris announced she’d picked Walz, passing over Shapiro, who many Pennsylvania Democrats had hoped would be selected. Harris held a rally at Temple University’s Liacouras Center to introduce Walz as her running mate on Tuesday.
Inside Harris’ decision to pass over Josh Shapiro as her VP pick
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro arrived on Sunday at the U.S. Naval Observatory, Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence in Washington, thinking there was a strong chance she would pick him to be her running mate in the presidential race.
But by the time he left his final interview with Harris, Shapiro got the impression she was headed in a different direction, according to a person with knowledge of his experience during the process. Two days later, she tapped Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate.
Although Shapiro was widely seen as a front-runner from the outside, Harris’ decision was impacted by factors political and personal, and by events that played out in the highly compressed timeline for her to make a pick, according to two sources familiar with her campaign’s vetting process.