Despite leading in the polls, Kamala Harris' potential running mates remain largely unknown by the majority of Americans. According to a recent survey, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are the frontrunners, but a significant portion of the public is unfamiliar with their names or experience.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, faces a daunting task in selecting a running mate who can complement her strengths and address potential weaknesses. With the vetting process nearing its end, speculation has centered on three leading contenders: Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Kamala Harris' VP Picks: Trying to Fill a Gap in Her Candidacy
However, a recent NPR/PBS News Marist poll suggests that these candidates are largely unfamiliar to the American public. Kelly, the most recognizable of the three, has a favorability rating of 31% and an unfavorability rating of 18%, but a whopping 52% of respondents had never heard of him.
Shapiro, who is considered the frontrunner due to his home-state advantage and Harris' upcoming rally in Philadelphia, has a 25% favorable rating and a 23% unfavorable rating. Notably, 53% of Americans remain unsure about him.
Kamala Harris' VP Picks: Trying to Fill a Gap in Her Candidacy
Walz, the progressive favorite, languishes far behind in name recognition, with 71% of respondents saying they were unsure or had never heard of him.
Harris' own favorability numbers have improved slightly, rising from 40-44% in the previous Marist poll to 46-48%. Her Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, remains largely unpopular, with 53% of respondents viewing him unfavorably compared to 44% who hold a positive view.
Kamala Harris' VP Picks: Trying to Fill a Gap in Her Candidacy
The survey, conducted between Thursday and Sunday, included 1,613 adults and has a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points.
The finalists emerged after President Biden's surprise withdrawal from the 2024 race and his endorsement of Harris as his successor. In addition to Kelly, Shapiro, and Walz, other contenders under consideration include Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Kamala Harris' VP Picks: Trying to Fill a Gap in Her Candidacy
Harris conducted in-person interviews with her potential running mates over the weekend, with a vetting team led by former Attorney General Eric Holder. The announcement is expected to come through a video introduction, similar to Biden's announcement of Harris as his running mate in 2020.
After the rally in Philadelphia, Harris and her running mate will embark on an ambitious swing state tour through Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada. The vice president drew a crowd of over 10,000 at her first major rally since taking over for Biden in Atlanta.
Harris' Republican vice presidential opponent, JD Vance, will follow her on her tour, attempting to discredit her and sway voters against her in key swing states.
