"I'm not going anywhere:" Michigan Gov. Whitmer endorses Harris; shoots down VP questions

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she's not leaving her gubernatorial post, even as attention on a theoretical run for vice president persists.

Why it matters: Michigan, which flipped blue voting for President Biden in 2020, is among the Midwest states that have emerged as a key presidential battleground — fueling interest in Whitmer as a national candidate.

Context: Biden announced Sunday he would drop out of the 2024 race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the party's nominee.

• Whitmer also endorsed Harris Monday.

What's happening: The governor told Lansing WLNS TV-6's Tim Skubick this morning: "I know everyone is suspicious and have been asking this question over and over again...I'm not going anywhere."

The intrigue: Despite that, some still wonder about Whitmer's top-of-the-ticket prospects. Former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio on Sunday called a theoretical Whitmer/Harris ticket a "a team we can win with" in a social media post .

Plus: "She's said she won't challenge Harris but what if it comes down to it at the convention and Harris doesn't have the votes from delegates?" Michigan political strategist Andrea Bitely told Axios.

• "Democrats could realize having a woman from Michigan is better than having a woman from California."

Yes, but: Bitely says she doesn't see Whitmer wanting to play second-fiddle as vice president. "I think it'll be a Midwestern man."

The big picture: Harris has quickly consolidated the support of both Michigan Senators and nearly all of its Democratic delegation in the U.S. House, including Reps. Debbie Dingell of Ann Arbor and Elissa Slotkin of Holly.

• Rashida Tlaib of Detroit was the lone member not to have endorsed Harris by Monday afternoon.

The other side: Republicans' view of the Midwest's crucial role in 2024 was made clear by former president Trump's pick for vice president, Ohio Senator JD Vance.

What's next: State Senator Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield), who's a delegate at next month's Democratic convention in Chicago, says he's excited to support Harris.

• "Biden's campaign had some very strong moments, including just last week in Detroit, but at the end of the day, I don't think that the narrative could withstand another week of 'can he do this?'"
• "These are abnormal times and we can't afford to have an abnormal president," Moss says. "I'm prepared for this reset of the Democratic ticket to return us to normal times again."