Kamala Harris’ field of potential vice presidential running mates has narrowed with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and then North Carolina Roy Cooper ruling themselves out. This has left Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as favorites, with other names including Pete Buttigieg still attracting attention.
Reuters reports that Harris and her running mate will tour key battleground states “next week”, implying a decision will come soon.
Meanwhile, a group of famous, self-described “white dudes” raked in more than $3.5m in donations for Harris’ presidential campaign during a Zoom rally on Monday.
The “White Dudes for Harris” online rally included Hollywood stars such as Jeff Bridges, Mark Ruffalo and Josh Groban as well as Democratic officials.
Over 150,000 joined the virtual event where Bridges channeled his “The Dude” moniker from The Big Lebowski: “I’m excited, man!”
As the event drew in numbers, organizer Ross Morales Rocketto claimed that X – owned by self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist” Elon Musk – suspended its account on the platform.
Donald Trump meanwhile has defended JD Vance’s past sexist comments and again refused to commit to debating Harris.
‘I’ll probably end up debating,” he said, adding: “I can also make a case for not doing it.”
IN FOCUS: Kamala Harris identifies as Gen X – and, believe you me, you really don’t want to mess with us
Kamala Harris is apparently keen to be seen as the new Gen X broom to sweep out the Boomers that have dominated American politics for four decades. Born in 1964, she misses the official start year for Generation X (which spans from 1965 to 1980) but in these times of self-identifying, it’s all about passing and Harris looks pretty Gen X to me.
Oliver O’Connell30 July 2024 18:15
Kamala Harris mocks Trump with ‘Bye Bye Bye’ TikTok alongside Lance Bass
In one of the first videos posted to her new official profile – which has already gained more than three million followers since appearing late last week – the singer accompanied the vice president in a short clip mocking her would-be opponent Donald Trump.
Mike Bedigan has the story.
Oliver O’Connell30 July 2024 17:45
US intelligence says Russia backs Trump and Iran supports Harris in efforts to influence 2024 election
Gustaf Kilander has the details.
Oliver O’Connell30 July 2024 17:30
IN FOCUS — Ella Emhoff: Forget Brat summer, Kamala Harris’s leftist stepdaughter could be her ticket to the Gen Z vote
Earlier this month, an old interview with Republican vice-presidential hopeful JD Vance resurfaced online. In it, Vance denounced vice-president Kamala Harris as a “childless cat lady” with no “direct stake” in America’s future. His words prompted outrage – and among the first to rush to Harris’s defense was her 25-year-old stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff. “How can you be ‘childless’ when you have cutie pie kids like Cole and I?” she wrote in an Instagram story.
Her comment was a testament to her and her older brother Cole’s warm bond with the woman they call “Momala” – and proved that family isn’t just about biological relationships. If Harris, who was endorsed by US president Joe Biden after he announced he’d no longer be seeking re-election, does end up in the White House, then Ella will be a very modern first daughter.
Oliver O’Connell30 July 2024 17:15
Harris and her VP pick will tour battleground states next week – sources
Vice President Kamala Harris will tour battleground states next week with her vice presidential candidate, two sources familiar with the planning said on Tuesday, a signal the selection process for her running mate is coming to a close.
The high-stakes decision of who will run with Harris has taken center-stage since she became the Democratic frontrunner for the November election, after U.S. President Joe Biden ended his White House bid just over a week ago.
Harris will announce her vice presidential pick before next week’s tour of states that could swing to Republicans or Democrats in November, one of the sources said.
The short list of candidates under consideration include Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
On Monday, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer both indicated they were both out of the VP sweepstakes.
A handful of U.S. states, often called battlegrounds, have decided the presidential election in recent years, including Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
REUTERS30 July 2024 16:49
Poll: Americans view Harris as more intelligent but see Trump as the better leader
But despite the VP’s positive traits, people are still much more likely to see Trump as a strong leader (60 per cent, to Harris’ 47 per cent).
With one a former president and three-time presidential candidate, and the other an incumbent VP but first-time (likely) candidate, the question of leadership is front-and-center.
Oliver O’Connell30 July 2024 16:45
Trump to follow Harris in Georgia
Donald Trump has announced a rally in Atlanta on Saturday at the same venue Kamala Harris is holding a rally tonight with Megan Thee Stallion — Georgia State’s Convocation Center.
Oliver O’Connell30 July 2024 16:15
Watch: How might possible VP candidates improve Harris’s chances in November?
CNN’s senior data reporter Harry Enten looks at how Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, and Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania might boost Kamala Harris’s chances of victory in November should she choose one of them as her running mate.
Oliver O’Connell30 July 2024 16:05