A tweet from a Democrat has sparked chaos after it appeared to suggest that Vice President Kamala Harris picked Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as her running mate.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker prompted confusion with a post on Friday saying: ‘Proud to be back with so many leaders from across our region supporting @KamalaHarris for President and @JoshShapiroP for VP!’.
She included a video with footage of recent press conferences that ended with the message: ‘Josh Shapiro for Vice President’.
Journalist Ernest Owens then claimed he had heard from sources that the post was due to be scheduled for Monday, but was accidentally published early.
Sources however told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the post was simply an endorsement and a show of support for Shapiro.
‘This is not an announcement of anything. This is just the mayor showing her support for a longtime friend who we know is one of the people being considered.’
Kamala Harris running mate choice appears to have been accidentally leaked days before the announcement
Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro is considered one of the favorites to be Harris’ VP and has been vetted by her campaign
Philadelphia Cherelle Parker prompted confusion with a post on Friday saying: ‘Proud to be back with so many leaders from across our region supporting @KamalaHarris for President and @JoshShapiroP for VP!’
Shapiro is considered one of the favorites to be Harris’ VP and has been vetted by her campaign.
He cancelled a number of planned fundraisers in the Hamptons this weekend.
His team offered no hint that the cancellation had anything to do with the VP selection process.
‘The Governor’s trip was planned several weeks ago and included several fundraisers for his own campaign committee,’ spokesperson Manuel Bonder told DailyMail.com.
‘His schedule has changed and he is no longer traveling to the Hamptons this weekend,’ Bonder added.
Harris is expected to announce her running mate early next week.
They will then travel together to seven swing regions.
One tell that it could be Shapiro is that the Democratic ticket’s first stop will be in Philadelphia.
Then Harris and her running mate will head to western Wisconsin, Detroit, Raleigh, Savannah, Phoenix and Las Vegas.
Former President Donald Trump likely can’t win the election without tilting Pennsylvania back to his column.
He won the Keystone State in 2016 over Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Four years later it was won by now President Joe Biden, who was born in Scranton.
Adding Shapiro to the ticket could help bolster Harris’ chances in Pennsylvania, especially in the more conservative western Pennsylvania, where Shapiro outperformed Biden during his 2022 race.
Shapiro also ran up big margins in suburban and exurban areas around Philadelphia, which could be key to winning the state.
One reason the rumor took off is that Shapiro has become an overwhelming favorite in the betting markets.
He was already leading all comers in odds by overseas betting sites like Bet365.
The post comes as other Philadelphia bigs have also been talking up Shapiro, including former governor, mayor and DNC chair Ed Rendell, who said one of his key virtues is that he wouldn’t go behind the commander in chief’s back.
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