CHICAGO – Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says anti-Semitism played no role in him not being the Democratic vice presidential nominee, as Donald Trump has charged.
Shapiro said that Trump is the “least credible person” when it comes to hate and bigotry.
“He’s trying to use me and use other Jews to further divide Americans,” Shapiro said, concluding his speech to the Pennsylvania delegation at the Democratic convention on Monday morning.
Shapiro later said he wanted to be clear: “Anti-Semitism played no part in my dialogue with the vice president. Absolutely none. It is also a fact that anti-Semitism exists in our union, in our country and in some parts of our party, and we must stand up and oppose it.”
Shapiro, who is Jewish, was a finalist for Kamala Harris to be vice president. He is popular in Pennsylvania, which is crucial to the Democrats’ chances of victory in November.
Harris jumped to the top of the ticket in late July after President Joe Biden said he would step aside. Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz after sources said he reached out to him personally and thought he would be an asset to the ticket.
After Shapiro’s remarks, Walz surprised the Pennsylvania delegates by dropping into the breakfast meeting.