Colorado Gov. Jared Polis finished among Kamala Harris' 10 top vice presidential picks in a survey of Washington Post opinion columnists published Thursday by the newspaper's Prompt 2024 newsletter, though the Democrat didn't land high on the list and has joked that he'd be an unlikely choice.
Polis, a former congressman serving his second term as Colorado's governor, came in eighth in the tally, conducted by Post columnist Matt Bai , who asked 19 of his fellow scribes to rank a half dozen of the incumbent vice president's' "wisest" options for a running mate.
The position on the ticket suddenly became open this week when President Joe Biden announced he was ending his bid for reelection and endorsed Harris, his No. 2 since the pair took office three years ago.
Harris appears to be on a glide path to win the Democratic nomination for president by early next month, when the party's national convention delegates plan to hold a virtual roll call ahead of the four-day Democratic National Convention, set to start Aug. 19 in Chicago.
"The so-called Veepstakes are Washington’s favorite reality show — like 'Love Island' without the attractive people," Bai quipped, noting that some recent vice presidents — including Biden, who held the office for two terms under Barack Obama — have proven the job can be consequential.
Leading the newsletter's lineup was Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, followed by a pack of governors — Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Gretchen Witmer of Michigan and Tim Walz of Minnesota.
Next came Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, with Polis, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzger and retired Admiral William McRaven rousing out the Top 10.
Bai noted that three other Colorado Democrats also received votes: U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, who both sought the 2020 presidential nomination won by Biden, and U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, an attorney and Army Ranger veteran serving his third term in Congress.
Polis cracked wise earlier this week when asked if he would consider joining the ticket with Harris.
“Look, if they do the polling and it turns out that they need a 49-year-old, bald and gay Jew from Boulder, Colorado, they got my number," Polis told CNN after insisting he would consider it if asked but loves his current job.
A wealthy tech entrepreneur and the nation's first openly gay elected governor, Polis has been mentioned for years as a presidential prospect — routinely polling in low single digits on long lists of potential candidates — but there's no evidence the Harris campaign is scrutinizing him the way it might vet a potential running mate.
Reportedly, Harris' team, led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, is weighing as many as a dozen possibilities , with all the politicians listed ahead of Polis on Bai's list under consideration.
Polis' spokeswoman didn't respond Thursday when asked by Colorado Politics if the governor has provided background material to Harris' team.
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