Pritzker works to clarify whether he’s being vetted for Harris running mate

(The Center Square) – Questions persist around whether Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is or is not being vetted as a possible vice presidential candidate for Kamala Harris.

President Joe Biden announced Sunday he was not seeking reelection. He later endorsed Vice President Harris to be the nominee. Democratic leaders, including Pritzker, followed suit with endorsements of Harris.

Alongside the names of Democratic governors from several other states, Pritzker’s name was brought up in reports earlier this week as a potential vice presidential candidate.

Tuesday, Pritzker told MSNBC he had not received any vetting materials. Wednesday, he told CNN he wouldn’t share anything from private conversations he’s had and if asked to be the running mate it would be hard to resist such a call.

In front of other media Thursday in Chicago, Pritzker continued fielding questions seeking clarification of who he’s talked to and about what.

“As I’ve said, I’m not going to talk about any conversations we’ve had,” Pritzker said. “I haven’t talked to the campaign the way you’ve described, just spoke with Vice President Harris.”

Pritzker then had to clarify that statement.

“Sorry, I think the question was had I spoken with them in the last day, did I get a call, and the answer is no,” Pritzker said.

The governor then went on to say that he doesn’t know anyone working in Democratic politics who has not talked to the Harris campaign. He knows people who work on the campaign and is involved in transmitting the message of the campaign.

The governor was then asked directly Thursday: “Have you been contacted about becoming vice president?”

“Again, I’m not going to talk about that,” Pritzker said. “I can tell you that, like, I’m going to campaign. Whatever happens in this process that I understand is going on, my job is to make sure that we win in November, so I’m going to work hard to do that as I have for, gosh, the last year and a half in this campaign.”

Democrats will officially select their candidates for president and vice president at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month.