New Details On Why Harris Bypassed Shapiro For VP

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Kamala Harris came to think Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro would not be the right fit as running mate following their meeting Sunday in Washington, D.C., ultimately contributing to Harris's selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate Tuesday morning, according to a series of media sources citing individuals familiar with the mindset of Harris and her team in making the decision.

Late last week, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman expressed concerns to Harris's camp about Shapiro's preoccupation with his own personal ambition, according to Politico. Harris's perception of Shapiro's character and motivations based on Fetterman's concerns contributed to her final assessment, Townhall and the Inquirer, among others, reported.

Related: Gov. Shapiro Reacts After Being Bypassed For VP Pick

Another contributing factor was a bizarre promotional video released by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker last week, featuring Democratic leaders from across southeastern Pennsylvania supporting "Josh Shapiro for vice president," as if the decision had already been made.

The Inquirer report indicates Shapiro was not involved in making the advertisement, but was aware of it before it was published.

Ultimately, Harris was "worried about whether Shapiro would be a good fit for a supporting role," the Inquirer story notes, as the sense that he was "too ambitious to be a No. 2" took hold.

The meeting itself may have then further contributed to these concerns, according to ABC News sources, which indicated that the "meeting did not go as well as it could have" and that Walz then became the favorite.

Details on exactly what Shapiro and Harris discussed during their meeting remain murky. But after that meeting, the ABC report states, Shapiro called Harris with concerns about leaving his job in Pennsylvania.

"She picked Walz because she had chemistry with him as a generational peer and saw him as somebody who could be an effective advocate without threatening to overshadow her," Politico analyst Jonathan Martin wrote Wednesday.

Related: Kamala Harris Picks Gov. Tim Walz Of MN As Democratic Running Mate

These personality and governance reasons were only a part of the equation. Walz, a former teacher and union leader adored by progressives, received almost no negative press or pushback from within the Democratic party throughout the vetting process. Shapiro, meanwhile, has been sharply criticized by the left for his aggressive pro-Israel stance and crackdown on peaceful pro-Palestinian protests. This was worsened by the recent revelation in the New York Times that he penned a college paper calling Palestinians too "battle minded" for a two-state solution in the Middle East.

In statements made Tuesday morning, a few hours after the Walz announcement, Shapiro expressed full support for the Harris and Walz ticket. He then delivered fiery remarks on their behalf during their first rally together Tuesday night at Temple University.

"As I’ve said repeatedly over the past several weeks, the running mate decision was a deeply personal decision for the Vice President – and it was also a deeply personal decision for me," Shapiro said. "Pennsylvanians elected me to a four-year term as their Governor, and my work here is far from finished – there is a lot more stuff I want to get done for the good people of this Commonwealth."

Since taking over the Democratic ticket from President Biden a few weeks ago, Harris has erased former President Trump's three point lead over Biden in the polls and has taken a 0.5 point lead nationally, according to an aggregate of sources at RealClearPolitics.

Despite the gains, Trump still holds a 1.8 point lead over Harris in Pennsylvania.