WASHINGTON – Vice President Kamala Harris is nearing a final decision on her running mate and plans to meet with him. some of the best candidates Within the next 72 hours, a source familiar with the process said.
Harris is expected to be in Washington on Friday and this weekend, with no public events currently scheduled.
Several shortlisted candidates have already changed or postponed their plans for a few days, stating that they need to set aside some time for face-to-face interviews.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, for example, has canceled planned fundraisers for his PAC this weekend in the Hamptons, his press secretary, Manuel Bonder, said Thursday.
“His schedule has changed and he’s no longer going to the Hamptons this weekend,” Bonder said.
A formal vetting process by a law firm has been completed, two sources familiar with the process said, and in-person meetings are among the final steps before Harris makes his selection. Eric Holder, who served as attorney general under President Barack Obama, was in charge Process for Harris As part of his role as general counsel at Covington and Burling LLP.
NBC News reported Thursday that the six candidates under consideration are Shapiro, Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshar, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
It’s unclear if they all made it to the final in-person interviews with Harris himself this weekend.
Several candidates have already met with the screening team.
Harris is expected to make his decision on Tuesday, when he will make his first appearance with his partner on the battleground state tour, which begins in Philadelphia.
A source familiar with the process cautioned against reading too much into the venue, saying Philadelphia was chosen in a vacuum over Shapiro.
Next week’s tour also includes visits to western Wisconsin; Detroit; Raleigh, North Carolina; Phoenix; Las Vegas; and Savannah, Georgia.