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By Kaitlin Lewis and Rachel Dobkin
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Speculation that Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, will pick Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her running mate has reached a fever pitch with the release of a new video posted on social media by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker.
In the video posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Friday afternoon, Parker, along with other Democratic leaders from Pennsylvania, voiced their support for a Harris-Shapiro ticket.
"I can't think of a better partner than our governor Josh Shapiro," Parker said in a clip taken from an event on July 26.
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The video later cut to multiple leaders saying: "We are getting behind Kamala Harris for president and Josh Shapiro for Vice president."
"Now we need you. Let us and Kamala Harris know you stand with her. Together we can do this," Parker said toward the end of the video.
Shapiro is already considered to be one of the top contenders for Harris' running mate and Friday's video just added to this speculation.
Ernest Owens, an award-winning journalist and president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, wrote on X on late Friday afternoon, "Philly political sources have told me that a staffer connected with Mayor Cherelle Parker's team accidentally posted the video [Friday]. The video was scheduled for Monday...after VP Kamala Harris was expected to announce her pick. It's Josh Shapiro, y'all."
Someone with direct knowledge on the matter told Newsweek Friday evening that the video was not an announcement of Harris' running mate. It was just the mayor showing her support for Shapiro as a potential vice presidential candidate.
Parker previously endorsed Shapiro to be Harris' running mate during an event with labor leaders in Philadelphia July 26, according to a report from The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Several other Democrats are reported to still be in the running for Harris' vice presidential pick. The Associated Press (AP) said on Friday that Harris was interviewing six candidates ahead of making her formal announcement next week, according to sources who spoke with the outlet.
The names include Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Shapiro was also listed as being interviewed for the vice presidential post.
Speculation over Shapiro's vice presidential candidacy also heightened after the governor canceled a fundraising trip that was scheduled in the Hamptons in Long Island, New York, this weekend. Other names on Harris' shortlist also cleared their calendars this weekend, including Beshear, who skipped a planned stop at a distillery in Western Kentucky on Friday. Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman traveled in Beshear's absence, per a report from KFVS.
President Joe Biden was questioned about Harris' running mate choice while speaking with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House Friday. He told journalists, "I'll let her work that out," according to AP.
Harris is expected to announce her running mate ahead of a string of rallies next week that will hit seven key battleground states. The first event on the list will be held at Temple University in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Newsweek reached out to Parker and Shapiro's offices via email for comment Friday evening.
Update 08/02/24, 6:45 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and background.
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