Gretchen Whitmer Takes Herself Out of Contention as VP Pick
Michigan governor had been rumored to be on the short list for Harris’s running mate
Michigan’s Democratic governor has taken herself out of the running to be Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate this year.
Gov Gretchen Whitmer had been rumored to be among a handful of Democrats who were being vetted by Harris’s nascent presidential campaign to become the choice to run to succeed Harris in the No 2 slot.
Just weeks away from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Harris is getting the apparatus moving for the new presidential bid she’s embarking on since President Biden dropped out of the race Sunday.
That includes clinching enough support among convention delegates to officially secure the Democratic nomination.
However, while Whitmer said that she endorses Harris for president, the governor now in her second term won’t be joining her in the campaign.
Whitmer was among several other prominent Democrats apparently who are under consideration as Harris’s running mate, including Sen Mark Kelly, of Arizona as well as a number of governors such as Roy Cooper, of North Carolina, Josh Shapiro, of Pennsylvania, and Tim Walz, of Minnesota.
But Whitmer said that she is staying put in Lansing.
She was asked about the running mate position Monday by a reporter.
“I am not leaving Michigan, I’m proud to be the governor Michigan. I’ve been consistent,” Whitmer told the journalist. “I know everyone is always suspicious and asking this question over and over again. I know you’re doing your job. I am not going anywhere.”
Although Whitmer is backing Harris, she also was asked why it took her longer than many other Democrats to do so.
“I think everyone was surprised by the news yesterday, even though there’s a lot of conversation about it — and that means [Biden campaign] co-chairs included — so I wanted a minute to check in with all my colleagues and let the dust settle, and proud to be supporting the vice president for president,” Whitmer said, referring to the news of Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
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