PA's DNC Delegation Backs Harris; Gov. Shapiro Floated As VP Candidate

HARRISBURG, PA — In the wake of President Joe Biden's historic decision to not seek re-election in 2024, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has been floated as a possible vice presidential candidate, and state Democrats have largely coalesced behind their candidate.

The Pennsylvania delegation to the Democratic National Convention unanimously declared their intention to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris to take Biden's spot during a special call at 1 p.m. Monday, one of the first states in the country to do so.

And like Biden and most major Democratic figures, Shapiro immediately endorsed Harris.

RELATED: Biden Drops Out Of Race For Re-Election

“I’ve known Kamala Harris for nearly two decades – we’ve both been prosecutors, we’ve both stood up for the rule of law, we’ve both fought for the people and delivered results," Shapiro said in his statement. "Kamala Harris is a patriot worthy of our support and she will continue the work of generations of Americans who came before us to perfect our union, protect our democracy, and advance real freedom. She has served the country honorably as Vice President and she is ready to be President."

Shapiro said he spoke with first Biden and then Harris on the phone on Sunday. His quick announcement only added fuel to the rumors raging about the party considering him for higher office.

The reasons are manifold, but one sticks out: Shapiro's home state will once again be a critical turning point in the presidential election. Pennsylvania was narrowly won by former President Trump in 2016, winning him the election, and then again won narrowly by President Biden in 2020, helping him to the election.

But blind support for Harris, and for Biden stepping aside, was far from universal in Pennsylvania. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman was one of a few Democrats who were not happy about the way Biden was pushed out by Democratic power brokers.

"Spare me the soaring accolades from people with their fingerprints on the blades in our President's back," Fetterman reportedly said, taking aim at those who heaped praise on Biden after he dropped out.

While Fetterman notably did not mention Harris, Republicans in Pennsylvania were quick to attack her — and this year's primary process that took the Democratic choice for president out of the hands of voters.

"Oh the irony that the party that screams democracy ignores the will of millions of voters to hand select in secret smoke filled rooms the candidate that they want to be president," said 2022 gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano.

More centrist Republican senate candidate, Dave McCormick, focused on Harris's track record.

"There is no border crisis without Kamala Harris. There is no affordability crisis without Kamala Harris. There is no violent crime crisis in our cities without Kamala Harris. Harris has made life worse for Pennsylvanians as VP. She’d be a disaster as president.

Biden's decision, while widely expected in some Democratic circles following the president's disastrous debate performance against Trump weeks ago, sent a seismic shift across the political landscape and transformed narratives surrounding the election that were nearly as old as the octogenarian candidates themselves.

Leaders from both the centrist and progressive wings of the Democratic party in Pennsylvania declared their support for Biden's decision and Harris Monday.

"This November, our rights, our freedoms, and our democracy are on the ballot," Lt. Gov. Austin Davis said. "I thank President Joe Biden for his steady leadership and fully support electing Vice President Kamala Harris as the 47th President of the United States."

"GRATEFUL to @JoeBiden and READY TO WORK to elect Vice President @KamalaHarris to be our next President," Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton shared on Twitter. "The road to the White House runs through Pennsylvania and we are just getting started!!"

"I strongly support @KamalaHarris for President," U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle shared. "She’s an enormously talented and accomplished leader who will prosecute the case against Donald Trump."

"President Biden’s lifetime of service is a testament to the most American of ideals — patriotism, democracy, freedom," added U.S. Rep. Madeline Dean. "The country owes him a unpayable debt — and I am thrilled to join him in endorsing Vice President Harris as the Democratic nominee."

In hypothetical polling between Trump and Harris that has been conducted in recent months, Trump leads by an average of 1.7 points, according to RealClearPolitics. That's marginally less than his 3 point lead over Biden.

Polling also gave Trump a 3 point lead over Shapiro in a hypothetical, head to head race, Newsweek reports.

No polls have yet been released since Biden's decision Sunday, which Democrats hope will help to move the needle to the left.

Meanwhile, the wording of Shapiro's statement implied, in the very least, a close relationship to the Harris campaign.

“The best path forward for the Democratic Party is to quickly unite behind Vice President Harris and refocus on winning the presidency," Shapiro added. "The contrast in this race could not be clearer and the road to victory in November runs right through Pennsylvania – where this collective work began. I will do everything I can to help elect Kamala Harris as the 47th President of the United States."

Over the past several weeks, Shapiro himself has been floated as a potential replacement for Biden, somewhere on the list below California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. But as vice president, Shapiro, due to Pennsylvania's importance in the race, might carry more value than any of them.

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker are among other popular picks to join Harris on the ticket.