After reports that Democrats urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the race, it seems they might now be indicating to Vice President Kamala Harris that Sen. Mark Kelly, (D-AZ), could be their preferred running mate due to his potential to strengthen the campaign on the challenging border issue.
“He would add a lot of value,” Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, (D-TX), told Politico.
Kelly, a former NASA astronaut and Navy pilot, is married to gun-control advocate Gabby Giffords, who survived an attempted assassination in 2011 where she was shot in the head.
At a campaign rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the border, military service, and the assassination attempt on the life of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump were prominent topics on Saturday.
Harris is facing political backlash for her role as President Joe Biden’s border czar, while Kelly, a border-state Democrat, has pushed the administration on this issue.
Kelly “knows the border well,” Rep. Henry Cuellar, (D-TX), told Politico.
According to 30 Democrat lawmakers and senior aides cited by Politico, Kelly and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a fellow swing state Democrat, are the two front-runners to be Harris’ running mate.
“Wow, man, this guy knows what he’s talking about,” Rep. Lou Correa, (D-CA), said of Kelly, who accompanied him on a trip to Mexico City to discuss border security with the country’s president.
If Kelly is removed from his Senate seat, Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs would have the authority to choose his successor, which Sen. Peter Welch, (D-VT), acknowledged as a “concern,” but not the priority.
“I think all of us understand that first, last, and always — what’s going to help us win the presidency?” he said. “That’s what we have to do. And that’s more important than any Senate or House seat.”
Other potential candidates being considered include Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
Harris campaign spokeswoman Lauren Hitt declined to comment on the vice presidential vetting process, according to the report.
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