A campaign video posted Friday featuring Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker indicated the city is ready for Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to be named Kamala Harris’ running mate in November’s presidential election.
“Kamala Harris for president,” Parker says in the ambitiously produced video, seemingly filmed throughout Philly and featuring dozens of supporters. “Josh Shapiro for vice president.”
The ad, which was paid for by PAforKamala.com, is said to have been accidentally shared by someone in the mayor’s office, according to Ernest Owens, the president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. The video was quickly deleted from the account where it was posted.
It’s unclear if the leaked video was meant to be a formal announcement or if it was made in anticipation of Harris potentially breaking the news that she’d settled on Shapiro.
A source told the Philadelphia Inquirer the mysterious video “is not an announcement of anything” other than Parker’s support for Shapiro as Harris’ VP.
The Harris campaign has not addressed the ad naming Shapiro.
Harris plans to announce who she’ll share the Democratic ticket with on Tuesday. Her vetting team finished reviewing vice presidential candidates on Thursday, according to the New York Times.
Other contenders are believed to include Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
Pennsylvania is a swing state that many pundits believe Harris has to win to become the 47th president. Shapiro, who became the state’s 48th governor in January of last year, remains popular at home.
Harris’ Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump, has campaigned heavily in the Keystone State.
The 78-year-old candidate said last week he planned to hold a rally in Butler, despite being shot during his July 13 visit to the west Pennsylvania town.
Trump won Pennsylvania in 2016 en route to winning the presidency. President Joe Biden won the state in 2020 to defeat Trump.
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