Oklahoma Democrats now looking at potential candidates for vice president's post

Sunday's announcement that President Joe Biden would not seek reelection launched a flurry of speculation, quips from political pundits and, not unexpectedly, a second campaign ― one about who would join Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic candidate, at the top of the ticket.

Following Biden's exit from the campaign and his subsequent endorsement of Harris for president, the discussion shifted to who would become Harris' running mate. With the Democrats' national convention just weeks away , the party's presidential candidate will have little time to choose a running mate, vet that person and launch their joint campaign.

Nationwide, nine Democrats ― eight men and one woman ― seem to be at the top of the list as likely choices for vice president. That group includes, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Which do Oklahoma leaders think could be a VP pick for Kamala Harris?

In Oklahoma, the list of potential vice presidents mentioned is much smaller: three.

Former Attorney General Drew Edmondson said Harris has a large group of potential running mates to choose from. "There was a lot of talk about Gavin Newsom from California," Edmondson said. "But that's not gonna work because I believe Harris will be at the head of the ticket."

Edmondson said his favorite among the group was outgoing North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper.

Cooper, who served two terms as governor, has a strong state connection, Edmondson said. Cooper's wife, Kristin, is from Oklahoma City. "It would be great to have a (vice) president with ties to Oklahoma City," he said. "Where the (vice) president would welcome a trip to visit relatives from Oklahoma City."

Weigh in: What happens now that President Biden has bowed out from the race? Share your thoughts

Edmondson said Cooper was energetic and a skilled politician who accomplished a great deal with a legislature of the other party. "He has a proven ability to work across party lines and effectively," he said.

Edmondson said Biden's exit and a new slate of candidates will add excitement to the fall campaign. "Two white men, one over 80 and one approaching 80, was not an exciting prospect for a good number of people in this country. I think this will add a little energy to the campaign."

With Cooper on the ballot, he said Democrats would have a much better chance in southern states that are purple and swing states along the border.

Why picking a VP from a swing state could be important

Texas Christian University political scientist Keith Gaddie said Harris' best choices would be either Beshear of Kentucky or Shapiro from Pennsylvania. Gaddie, the author of several books on southern politics, said if Harris follows previous campaign playbooks, she would probably choose a running mate from a swing state the party needs to win. In addition, she could choose a male as a running mate, for balance.

"My bet would be, if the nominee is Harris, that she picks either Josh Shapiro or Andy Beshear," he said. "A swing state or a Republican state governor who is Democrat, who is very popular and very effective. You bring them in and now you bring in experience from outside of D.C., which, honestly, I think we need right now. We need a governor up there."

A candidate with experience as a governor, he said, "brings something special to the table" in terms of issues and policies they have dealt with and in working with budget constraints. Both Shapiro and Beshear can reach new potential voters. In fact, Beshear is expected to attend a fundraiser in Oklahoma in August.

Echoing Edmondson, Gaddie said he didn't expect Newsom to be a viable candidate since both he and Harris were from California. He said Cooper would need more "introduction" than, perhaps, Beshear, but added that "any Democratic governor who did well during the pandemic is "on the table right now."

"I think it will draw interest because we know that was a high degree of dissatisfaction with the existing candidates. So shaking up and changing one of them is bound to draw interest," he said. "For the first time, in nearly a decade, we have something fresh."

Democrats will hold their national convention Aug. 18-22 in Chicago.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Democrats now looking at potential candidates for vice president's post