SoapZone Community: Politics Message Board

- Carter would have won MN with or without Mondale
- Clinton did not win TN even with Gore
- Obama would have won DE with or without Biden

In other words people are overstating the "the VP will give us this state" effect. Beyond that the first job of a VP candidate is do no harm (see Palin & Vance who have failed miserably at that). Right now Shapiro will likely do the ticket harm and not even on the I/P issue but rather on things like the sexual harassment scandal in his office and school vouchers. There is also his similar resume to VP Harris' - elite school education. State AG in a blue state (PA only flipped to red for Secretary Clinton)

As for Walz, had progressives not gone all in on him, I think he is a great candidate to get squishy midwesterners on board. His state school education, vocation as a public school teacher, and military service all offer a good contrast to VP Harris' resume. Unfortunately progressives, some of whom have been blatantly anti-Semitic to Shapiro, went all in on him and choosing him could look like caving to their demands.

All of those factors is why I think the most likely choice is Beshear. He isn't from PA but he will play well with voters in PA, MI, WI, NC, and GA who are more moderate. His drawback is that he too has a similar resume to VP Harris. Elite education. State AG.