As soon as President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential election and endorsed his running mate, Kamala Harris, several new conversations began immediately. One of them concerns who are the most likely figures who could join her in the ticket should she be anointed as the party's new presidential candidate.
Based on conversations with people close to Harris and her campaign, several outlets already identified the most salient names. And while the list may be shorter or longer based on the source of information, one data point stands out: there are seemingly no Latinos in there.
CNN's Jamie Gangel said some who are in the discussion are Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
CBS News, added other names to the mix: besides the mentioned four Democratic officials, it included Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock.
According to a recently published poll by Way to Win, a progressive group that connects donors with campaigns, Harris has a strong support among her party, with almost 7 out of 10 respondents saying they'd support her if President Biden dropped out.
But among Latinos, the numbers are lower, with 52% of those surveyed asserting their support. It is worth clarifying that, at the moment, such scenario was hypothetical. They may very well fluctuate now that it has become a reality. Support from the demographic could also vary depending on who her running mate ends up being.
However, Harris is not the nominee yet, and some Democrats have favored holding a "mini primary" before the party's August convention, The Associated Press reported. Among those standing on this corner is Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who addressed the issue while it was still a possibility last week.
"If you think that there is consensus among the people who want Joe Biden to leave that they will support Kamala - Vice President Harris - you would be mistaken," she said on social media. "There's no safe option," added the lawmaker, who was among the few still staunchly supporting Biden before he dropped out.
Former President Barack Obama also stopped short of endorsing Harris, saying in his statement regarding Biden's decision to drop out that he has "extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges."
The Democratic National Convention is set to take place in Chicago between August 19 and August 22. That gives the party about a month to determine who will face former President Donald Trump in the November elections.
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