Kentucky’s Andy Beshear is one of six Democratic contenders to receive an invitation to interview with members of Kamala Harris’ vice presidential vetting team, according to two Democratic sources familiar with the plans.
It’s an indication that the second-term red state governor has advanced to a more intense portion of the process to determine Harris’ running mate.
The others who have qualified for interviews with Harris’ team include Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.
It’s unclear when and if the vetting interview has already taken place. But if Beshear remains in the running, a conversation with Harris, the presumptive presidential nominee, would be the next step.
Harris initially indicated she would select her No. 2 by Aug. 7, but all indications look like it will be revealed sooner, potentially as early as this weekend.
The Harris campaign has already announced a battleground state tour with her to-be-named running mate beginning Tuesday evening in Philadelphia. The location has led many to speculate that Shapiro is the front-runner for the job.
Beshear is scheduled to appear in Oklahoma City Thursday night for a fundraiser for the Oklahoma Democratic Party. Tickets run from $100 to $1,000 and looked to be sold out on the party website. He canceled a stop in western Kentucky scheduled for Friday, his office told a southeastern Missouri TV station.
NBC News reported that Shapiro also canceled several weekend fundraisers.
The abrupt cancellations by both governors could allow them to free up time for vetting interviews with the Harris campaign.
But Beshear remains a veritable underdog in the betting markets. PredictIt, a popular gambling board for political professionals, had him far down in third place as the most likely choice for vice president on Thursday. Shapiro was in the driver’s seat at more than six times the favorite.
_____
(Michael Wilner contributed reporting from McClatchy’s Washington bureau.)
_____
©2024 McClatchy Washington Bureau. Visit mcclatchydc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
