by Alan Wooten
As the final hours tick down to an expected announcement, the pick for vice president on the Democrats’ ticket remains shrouded in secrecy and angled toward the governor of Pennsylvania.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ reveal is expected before Tuesday’s launch of a battleground states tour in Philadelphia. While the campaign has cautioned the starting point where she is expected to be alongside her running mate is not an indicator of the choice, a leading candidate since July 21 has been Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Monday morning Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appeared to be a finalist.
Harris on Friday secured enough of the delegates in the Democratic National Convention’s virtual roll call vote to clinch the party nomination. No other candidates ever emerged. That process started Friday and ends Monday. The convention, where a ceremonial roll call will be held, is Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.
Harris ascended to the top of the party ticket when President Joe Biden two weeks ago posted to social media he would not accept the nomination for reelection. Health concerns for the nation’s 46th president grew immensely with his performance on June 27 in a debate against Republican former President Donald Trump; two subsequent appearances making addresses from the Oval Office in which he never once in either looked at the camera as he stumbled a bit reading a teleprompter; and few public appearances.
Walz was considered a longshot at the outset of the process while Shapiro was a frontrunner along with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker have generally been at a next level.
Vetting information was sought from most if not all of them; the Harris campaign has not publicly announced a list, and varying reports suggest all were asked. Cooper said last week it was not the time for him to be considered and withdrew his name from consideration.
Professional oddsmakers, in the business of getting equal money on bets for its profits, have seized the moment with prop bets among many others tied to the election. Shapiro is the consensus favorite as of Monday morning. Reports have Walz supported by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
At BetOnline, Shapiro is minus-275, Walz plus-215, Beshear plus-1600 and Kelly plus-1800.
When the odds are a minus, this is the amount needed to wager to make $100. Wagering $100 on a plus bet nets the amount shown; for example, $100 on a plus-500 wins $500. The latter is a longer shot.
At Oddschecker, Shapiro is minus-188, Walz plus-420, Kelly plus-1800 and Beshear plus-3100.
At Polymarket, Shapiro is the choice over Walz 66 percent-25 percent, with Kelly 5 percent and Beshear 3 percent. At $markets, it’s Shapiro 64.9 percent, Walz 25.6 percent, Buttigieg 9 percent, Kelly 8.3 percent and Beshear 5.1 percent.
PredictIT is similar, with Shapiro 65 cents (betting yes is 65 cents on the dollar), Walz 28 cents, Kelly 10 cents and Beshear 5 cents.
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Alan Wooten, currently Managing Editor at The Center Square, has been a publisher, general manager and editor. His work has won national or state awards in every decade since the 1980s. He’s a proud graduate of Elon University and Farmville Central High in North Carolina.
Photo “Kamala Harris” by Kamala Harris. Photo “Josh Shapiro” by Josh Shapiro. Photo “Tim Walz” by Governor Tim Walz.
