Official Kamala Harris VP Thread

[Anonymous]

We don't know whether it is Beshear, but this is fine either way. I'm one of the Walz pilled people from up thread, but Beshear is affable, progressive, does not leave a Democratic senatorial seat up for grabs, and may put some purple states back in play.

One of the best things that the Harris campaign has going for it, right this second is the energy and enthusiasm of the democratic base. That energy and enthusiasm took the GOP by surprise, and they are going to try to undermine it by attacking whatever candidate is chosen this week, and attacking that person while pretending to be speaking for Democrats.

Let's not let them interrupt the energy this campaign has going for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s seen as relatively weak on reproductive nights, and he is the least experienced option. I thought the plan was to lean into the “ready on day 1” argument. Ugh. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna163974

POTUS sets the agenda and tone, not the VP. So what he thinks about abortion doesn't really matter when push comes to shove. POTUS is The Decider.

It might dampen women’s excitement a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because Beshear is well liked in Kentucky, an ultra red state. He’s appealing to the every man and he’s young. He is well spoken and a good guy who cares about his community. He has led Kentucky well. He also won’t be leaving a spot open for some lunatic to take in a toss up state.

Ahhhh just saw that KY Lt. Govenor is also a Democrat and a woman born in 1980 who was elected in 2023 with Beshear: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Coleman

So not only does a Dem get to lead the state for another 3 years, but she is well-positioned for reelection in 2027 without a primary fight. This is a very good move for the Democratic bench in the South.

She’s also “personally pro-life.”

I mean I'm also personally pro-life but would never impose that on another person and vote Democrat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because Beshear is well liked in Kentucky, an ultra red state. He’s appealing to the every man and he’s young. He is well spoken and a good guy who cares about his community. He has led Kentucky well. He also won’t be leaving a spot open for some lunatic to take in a toss up state.

Ahhhh just saw that KY Lt. Govenor is also a Democrat and a woman born in 1980 who was elected in 2023 with Beshear: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Coleman

So not only does a Dem get to lead the state for another 3 years, but she is well-positioned for reelection in 2027 without a primary fight. This is a very good move for the Democratic bench in the South.

She’s also “personally pro-life.”

I mean I'm also personally pro-life but would never impose that on another person and vote Democrat.

+1 I think that describes a lot of people, including a lot of pro-choice women. I am personally pro-life for myself, recognizing that I have a lot of privilege that would allow me to deal with an unexpected pregnancy. As a mother, I also firmly believe that motherhood should be an all volunteer army. This is not a job I want anyone to have if they don't want it, and I will fiercely defend the right of women to decide whether or not it's something they want to take on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because Beshear is well liked in Kentucky, an ultra red state. He’s appealing to the every man and he’s young. He is well spoken and a good guy who cares about his community. He has led Kentucky well. He also won’t be leaving a spot open for some lunatic to take in a toss up state.

Ahhhh just saw that KY Lt. Govenor is also a Democrat and a woman born in 1980 who was elected in 2023 with Beshear: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Coleman

So not only does a Dem get to lead the state for another 3 years, but she is well-positioned for reelection in 2027 without a primary fight. This is a very good move for the Democratic bench in the South.

She’s also “personally pro-life.”

I mean I'm also personally pro-life but would never impose that on another person and vote Democrat.

+1 I think that describes a lot of people, including a lot of pro-choice women. I am personally pro-life for myself, recognizing that I have a lot of privilege that would allow me to deal with an unexpected pregnancy. As a mother, I also firmly believe that motherhood should be an all volunteer army. This is not a job I want anyone to have if they don't want it, and I will fiercely defend the right of women to decide whether or not it's something they want to take on.

Pp you're responding to. I actually think being honest about this nuance is important and relatable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks…

He looks like every young dad on the golf course on Saturday morning and she looks like an Instagram mom. These are prime suburban and exurban voters who culturally trend toward Trump based on their peer group's inclinations but are swayable.

Not the worst choice. He also looks young, so he makes Harris look a bit more senior and wizened.

They’re a bit Stepford-looking for me. That Southern country club look. I don’t find them relatable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yep it’s happening folks!

I am the Walz-head and I am happy with Beshear

Honestly I'm just so thrilled to see our whole stable of talented Dems out there doing their thing!

Just realized I was, like, Amy Klobuchar's most ardent supporter in 2020 before I turned to Biden. Maybe I have a thing for Minnesotans.

Come on up and visit us. We’re the good kind of weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because Beshear is well liked in Kentucky, an ultra red state. He’s appealing to the every man and he’s young. He is well spoken and a good guy who cares about his community. He has led Kentucky well. He also won’t be leaving a spot open for some lunatic to take in a toss up state.

Ahhhh just saw that KY Lt. Govenor is also a Democrat and a woman born in 1980 who was elected in 2023 with Beshear: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Coleman

So not only does a Dem get to lead the state for another 3 years, but she is well-positioned for reelection in 2027 without a primary fight. This is a very good move for the Democratic bench in the South.

She’s also “personally pro-life.”

I mean I'm also personally pro-life but would never impose that on another person and vote Democrat.

+1 I think that describes a lot of people, including a lot of pro-choice women. I am personally pro-life for myself, recognizing that I have a lot of privilege that would allow me to deal with an unexpected pregnancy. As a mother, I also firmly believe that motherhood should be an all volunteer army. This is not a job I want anyone to have if they don't want it, and I will fiercely defend the right of women to decide whether or not it's something they want to take on.

I love you for this. I know that there are several life conditions that would make me choose abortion, though I have never needed to consider it, but I am so glad that people recognize that this job has to be an “all volunteer army.” (I lol’d at that, honestly).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So who are we rooting for today?

I am still team Walz but I could be swayed to Shapiro or Kelly

Exactly where I am.

I'm with Kelly or Walz.

I'm just praying they don't do something stupid that kills the momentum.

Like select Pete Buttigieg!

[Anonymous]

Per Bloomberg, Beshear is out and it’s between Kelly,Walz, and Shapiro. So who knows!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't know whether it is Beshear, but this is fine either way. I'm one of the Walz pilled people from up thread, but Beshear is affable, progressive, does not leave a Democratic senatorial seat up for grabs, and may put some purple states back in play.

One of the best things that the Harris campaign has going for it, right this second is the energy and enthusiasm of the democratic base. That energy and enthusiasm took the GOP by surprise, and they are going to try to undermine it by attacking whatever candidate is chosen this week, and attacking that person while pretending to be speaking for Democrats.

Let's not let them interrupt the energy this campaign has going for it.

This. I will support any of the possible VPs. I presume Harris and her team have talked through any and all of the possibilities and priorities and that VP will be on the same page.

(Though I have always wondered, does having candidate a from a state really make people in that state get out and vote? Is that actually proven or is that just accepted wisdom?)

[Anonymous]

Also, Beshear being from a Democrat that was elected and reelected in a dominantly red state means that he not only is progressive, but he knows how to speak to conservatives. That will be helpful when on the campaign trail. The undecideds went from 2% to 9% when Biden dropped out and Harris picked up the banner. So there is big gap of moderates, Independents and centrist Republicans that he can speak to and convince to move to the Democratic ticket. And there are many young white suburban voters out there that may be undecided and they will speak to these folks the best to sway them to vote for the Harris ticket. And he also speaks for the midwest. Trump and Harris are coastal elites. Vance and Beshear are midwesterners. Beshear takes the few positives from Vance and neutralizes them. All you are left with is the frothing-at-the-mouth crazy. Beshear makes Vance even more of an albatross than he already was, by neutralizing the "young white midwestern suburban" vibe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We don't know whether it is Beshear, but this is fine either way. I'm one of the Walz pilled people from up thread, but Beshear is affable, progressive, does not leave a Democratic senatorial seat up for grabs, and may put some purple states back in play.

One of the best things that the Harris campaign has going for it, right this second is the energy and enthusiasm of the democratic base. That energy and enthusiasm took the GOP by surprise, and they are going to try to undermine it by attacking whatever candidate is chosen this week, and attacking that person while pretending to be speaking for Democrats.

Let's not let them interrupt the energy this campaign has going for it.

This. I will support any of the possible VPs. I presume Harris and her team have talked through any and all of the possibilities and priorities and that VP will be on the same page.

(Though I have always wondered, does having candidate a from a state really make people in that state get out and vote? Is that actually proven or is that just accepted wisdom?)

Yes, having a popular candidate from a state or nearby state really does help. Many voters are not particularly informed about current events and national politics. They work (many of them more than one job), have families, and don't have time to research the candidates or follow national news. When they go to vote, they want to have someone familiar and having a candidate that you've voted for before, or that you know better because you do know the effect they've had on your state or region of the country makes a difference. Familiarity helps for the undecided and the less informed. Additionally, people tend to trust folks from their region of the country more. So East Coasters have a preference for East Coasters; same goes for the South, midwest, west coast, pacific northwest, etc. People are looking for people they know have the same values as them and coming from the same region comes with some assumptions about the candidates and how they think. This is why carpetbaggers often have a harder time, because they have to defend that they think like the locals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will lose faith in Harris if she doesn’t have a VP running mate by this weekend. She doesn’t have time to sit around on this decision.

DYK anything about campaigns? What's gonna change with her picking a veep candidate by this weekend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Per Bloomberg, Beshear is out and it’s between Kelly,Walz, and Shapiro. So who knows!

Here's the story, dated today, saying the finalists are Shapiro, Walz, and Kelly. Anyone have a subscription?
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-27/kamala-harris-vice-presidential-search-focuses-on-3-candidates