North Carolina is in play
“Sunday was the single biggest day for online Democratic donations in years, reads the subhead at The New York Times this morning. With President Biden’s withdrawal Sunday, with his endorsement of his vice president as his replacement, and with Kamala Harris the clear pick of multiple state Democratic delegations, now comes the veepstakes.
An avalanche of cash for the Harris coffers followed the announcement — more than $50 million. Endorsements flooded in as well, including 50 state Democratic chairs, members of Congress and governors. A palpable sense of relief flowed through the Democratic Party.
The next big question, and Harris’s first big decision, will be her vice presidential pick.
Swing state governors are clear favorites. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (46), Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (51), and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (52) are in Slate’s Tier 1. But Whitmer has said she doesn’t want it. When did Kentucky become a swing state? Donald Trump won it with over 62 percent in both 2016 and 2020. Shapiro is a possible. He could bring with him 19 electoral votes. Others mentioned in the press are more fantasy football. California Gov. Gavin Newsome brings no new electoral votes into the Democrats’ column, and he’s got a 12th Amendment problem. Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker has been named, but he brings no additional electoral votes for Democrats either. Quick-witted Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, would be an excellent foil for Trump’s VP pick, Sen. J.D. Vance.
Slate names some replaceable senators as possible VPs: Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet (59), Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (60), and Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy (50).
I’m going to make a pitch for North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (67). “I’ve literally never heard of Roy Cooper,” a Left Coast friend said over the weekend. Let my friends at Carolina Forward introduce you.
North Carolina (16 electoral votes) has not gone blue since 2008, but it has been narrowly contested. Trump won it in 2016 by under 4 points, and in 2020 against Biden by under 2. Cooper won the governorship in this purplish state in both those elections. He knows Harris going back to their days as attorneys general. He is past president of the National Association of Attorneys General and past chair of the Democratic Governors Association.
The Biden-Harris campaign sees North Carolina as in play and has been pouring more field organizers into the state (and farther out into the red counties than I’ve ever seen). Biden appeared in Raleigh the day after his debate. Harris popped into the state days ago for a rally in Fayetteville that received national press. She has appeared in the state a half-dozen times so far this year. Democrats’ Gen Z state chair Anderson Clayton cut her teeth as an Iowa field organizer for Harris in 2020, so as with Cooper they have a personal connection.
Harris has spoken at length with both Beshear and Cooper. Cooper is also term limited. His dance card is wide open.
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