Harris's Vice-Presidential Clash Turns Ugly
Harris's Vice-Presidential Clash Turns Ugly
Vice Presidential Race for Harris Turns Increasingly Bitter
The contest to become Vice President Harris's running mate is becoming more contentious as the decision approaches, with Democrats rallying behind their preferred candidates.
Progressives, upset by Israel's actions in Gaza, have increasingly targeted Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) due to his stance on Israel and his handling of pro-Palestinian protests. According to Politico, Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has also raised concerns about Shapiro with Harris's team.
The left wing of the Democratic Party is pushing for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be Harris’s pick. Several House Democrats are advocating for Walz, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), another leading contender, has faced public questioning from some union leaders about his suitability for the role, although the criticisms have not reached the same level of intensity as those against Shapiro.
Some strategists liken the vice presidential battle to a Democratic primary fight.
“This is probably the closest thing to a primary that Democrats get this cycle, explaining why it has become so high-stakes,” said a Democratic strategist who has worked on recent presidential campaigns. “Many Democrats see this as the last opportunity to impact the ticket and possibly influence the White House until 2028 or 2032, which is why there's so much campaigning.”
When President Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Harris, both Democrats and Republicans were surprised by how quickly the party united around her. Many had expected a fierce battle post-Biden, but no challengers emerged, allowing the party to breathe a sigh of relief.
However, the vice presidential race has since taken on a more bitter tone.
“Veepstakes is usually a months-long process, but the surprise of picking new talent for the ticket has excited Democrats, creating a pressure-cooker environment over just two weeks,” said a second strategist. “All opposition research and critiques that would normally have time to develop are being rushed out.”
“In the closing days, the fractures have grown more intense, but their durability is unclear. The guiding principle for the Harris campaign remains the same: Do no harm, show good judgment with your pick, and potentially sway key states.”
A Harris ally agreed that the condensed timeline, following recent fractures within the Democratic Party, is contributing to the “intensity of the moment.”
“No one wants to make a mistake here,” the ally said. “The window is small and the stakes are high.”
Shapiro has borne the brunt of the criticism, particularly from progressives. Critics from the left-leaning wing of his party point to what they see as a heavy-handed approach to pro-Palestinian protests during his tenure as governor and attorney general.
One debate became so intense that activists argued over whether calling Shapiro “Genocide Josh” was antisemitic, according to The New York Times.
Some Democrats believe much of the criticism Shapiro has received is from the “overly online left” and predict that progressives will support him if Harris picks him.
“These internal squabbles might seem significant online because they evoke strong emotions, but they don’t reflect what’s happening in the real world. The average voter is not paying attention to this,” said Keith Edwards, a digital Democratic strategist.
However, one progressive strategist told The Hill that the criticism extends beyond online spaces and could affect turnout among Arab American and Muslim voters.
“There will be issues if he is the VP for the Arab vote, the progressive vote,” the strategist said. “This could be a defining moment for her campaign.”
Progressives and pro-Palestinian activists take particular issue with a recently resurfaced op-ed from Shapiro’s undergraduate years at the University of Rochester, where he predicted that “peace will never come” to the Middle East and described Palestinians as “battle-minded.”
The Institute for Peace and the Institute for Middle East Understanding issued a statement on Friday calling Shapiro’s comments in the op-ed “virulently racist.”
Shapiro’s spokesperson responded, noting that the governor's views have evolved since he wrote the op-ed at age 20.
Shapiro’s allies highlight his support from the Arab community, including a recent op-ed from a member of the Philadelphia Arab American Development Corp praising Shapiro for his outreach to the community following Oct. 7.
Supporters and critics of progressives argue that Shapiro’s current positions on Israel-related issues are not significantly different from those of the other contenders, suggesting that much of the criticism is rooted in antisemitism. Shapiro supports a two-state solution and has been a vocal critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war.
“Those in the overly online left who attack Josh Shapiro’s pro-Israel positions differently from how they attack non-Jewish veep contenders are revealing their antisemitism,” Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), who is Jewish, told CNN.
A Democratic strategist predicted that the progressive backlash would not heavily influence Harris’s decision, pointing to her moderated stances on issues like “Medicare for All” and fracking.
“She’s had many opportunities to cater to their demands and hasn’t,” the strategist said.
Edwards also questioned how long voters will focus on the veepstakes news cycle given the recent political chaos.
“The news cycle is very short,” he said. “There was an assassination attempt three weeks ago, and no one talks about that. This issue we’re discussing now is even smaller.”
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