President Biden is set to help Vice President Kamala Harris campaign in the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania. The President took part in his first sit-down interview since he withdrew from the White House race. He said he regularly talks to Vice President Harris and is keen to join her on the campaign trail.
Biden discussed Kamala Harris’s choice of running mate and said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is a “great guy” who would have been his friend if they had grown up in the same neighborhood. He also addressed his own health and stated that he had a “really, really bad day” when he debated Donald Trump in Atlanta, but overall, his health is good.
The President also explained that he and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro are in the process of putting together a campaign schedule for the Vice President in he said.
Polls show that Vice President Harris has overtaken Donald Trump in Pennsylvania for the first time. A New York Times/Siena College survey placed Harris ahead of the Republican candidate by 50% to 46%. The result marks a significant shift since Harris became the presumptive nominee, as Trump led by 48% to 47% against President Biden.
Governor Shapiro was considered the favorite choice for Harris’s running mate, and some analysts speculate that winning the Keystone State will he more challenging for Harris with Tim Walz at her side. However, others suggest Walz was the wiser option, given his years of experience as a Congressman and two terms as Governor. By contrast, Shapiro is a first-term Governor who has never served on Capitol Hill.
Professor Christopher Devine, who teaches politics at the University of Dayton, said that while Shapiro would have significantly helped Harris win the 19 electoral points available in Pennsylvania, the state is still well within her reach, and she has a Vice Presidential candidate who will be “ready on day one” to occupy the Vice President’s office or even the Oval Office.
Political science expert Professor Cary Coglianese agreed that Walz was a wise choice, adding that Harris still has Shapiro fighting her corner in Pennsylvania.
