PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Tuesday he’s not been asked to submit paperwork tied to the process of vetting Vice President Kamala Harris’ potential running mates, and he brushed aside reports he’s on a short-list of Harris' potential vice-presidential picks.
Shapiro is one of the Democratic officials who endorsed Harris following President Joe Biden's announcement he would not seek reelection.
"I don't know what list I'm on,” Shapiro, 51, said. “I'm here celebrating the important work that we've done...I'm focused on doing my work. I'm focused on the political task at hand which is defeating Donald Trump."
Shapiro’s comments came during a visit Tuesday to Shippensburg University with the state’s Secretary of Education Dr. Khalin N. Mumin to highlight funding for higher education.
Democratic support has coalesced around Harris three days in the three days since Biden announced he would stand down his campaign. The Associated Press found that Harris has the backing of enough Democratic delegates to secure the party’s presidential nomination at next month’s convention.
ABC News reported Tuesday morning that Shapiro is one of at least four people who have been asked to submit materials to be vetted as her potential running mate. The others were Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and governors Roy Cooper of North Carolina and Andy Beshear of Kentucky.
Shapiro sought to throw cold water on the report while taking questions from reporters in Shippensburg.
“I was not asked and I have not submitted paperwork,” Shapiro said.
Pennsylvania will send nearly 200 delegates to Chicago next month to vote on a nominee to lead their ticket against former President Donald J. Trump in November.
On Monday, the state’s delegates participated in a Zoom call together and unanimously voted to back Harris at the convention, three delegates from Lackawanna County told Newswatch 16.
Grace McGregor Kramer, a delegate from Scranton, said she is a “giant Josh Shapiro fan.”
“I think it would be our loss to the United States’ gain,” Kramer said. "We’ll see. I think anything can happen.”