For Pete’s sake.
A handful of vice presidential candidates have risen to the top of voter preference in the first week of Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential run, with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro taking the top spots.
An ABC/Ipsos poll published Sunday showed Buttigieg with the highest approval rating (29%) of any of the potential VP candidates on Harris’ list.
The other candidates fell just behind with the following approval ratings: 22% for Kelly; 21% for California Gov. Gavin Newsom; 20% for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; and 17% for Shapiro.
Newsom is constitutionally barred from running on the same ticket as Harris as they are both California residents. Whitmer has repeatedly stressed she does not see herself running for election this cycle.
Buttigieg has consistently come in at the top of the VP polls. The former 2020 candidate’s husband, Chasten, is set to put on a campaign event Friday with second gentleman Doug Emhoff on Fire Island, sparking some speculation on his stance in Harris’ lineup.
The transportation secretary has stumped for Harris and has been a mouthpiece for her campaign on TV. He has the largest national recognition given his previous presidential run and current White House position.
But Buttigieg could have some drawbacks. The former South Bend, Ind., mayor doesn’t come from a battleground state and his ties to the Biden administration could be seen as a continuation of the same regime.
He has also been marred with several controversies during his time as transportation secretary, with repeated transport disruptions.
Harris – who began her solo 2024 campaign last Sunday after President Biden dropped out – has to make her VP decision in the coming days and has already sent out vetting materials. The Democratic National Committee voted to do a virtual roll call in the first week of August to nominate Harris and her VP pick before Ohio’s Aug. 7 state ballot deadline.
The short timeline could push Harris to be more likely to choose Buttigieg – but she has a slate of other candidates on her list.
Kelly and Shapiro, two candidates from critical swing states, are being pushed the most by Congressional Democrats who believe they will add the most to a Harris ticket, Politico reported.
The Arizona senator in particular is seen as someone who could successfully add to Harris’ immigration agenda. Kelly, a former astronaut, was a big supporter of the Senate border bill earlier this year and has spoken at the White House about Biden’s border plans.
But his exit from Arizona politics could put the important Democrat Senate position in danger two years from now, and some wonder if he would have wide national support.
Shapiro, who is also polling well, has national recognition and is a Democrat governor in a critical 2024 state. He has been a top surrogate for Harris and quickly endorsed her to replace Biden.
Some far-left Democrats have criticized his record of supporting Israel in the country’s war with Hamas. Harris is expected to forge a path trying to appease Democratic voters in her position on Israel and Gaza.
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) on Friday alleged that those opposed to the Pennsylvania governor over his position on Israel are engaging in antisemitism.
“Every potential nominee for Vice President is pro-Israel. Yet only one, Josh Shapiro, has been singled out by a far-left smear campaign calling him ‘Genocide Josh,’” Torres wrote. “The reason he is treated differently from the rest? Antisemitism. The antisemitic far left must never be given veto power over the selection of a presidential running mate.”
Shapiro stumped for Harris on Saturday in central Pennsylvania, hitting former President Donald Trump for not yet agreeing to debate Harris because she’s not the official Democratic nominee.
He argued Trump won’t agree to the debate yet “because she’s going to kick his a– in the debate.”
Other potential VP picks came in towards the bottom of the voter approval poll.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who has made apparent he would be open to the No. 2 ticket spot, came in at 13%, while Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper got 7% each.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz came in last with 6%.
The ABC News/Ipsos survey sampled 1,200 adults nationally between July 26-27 with a margin of error 3%.