Illinois Governor JB Pritzker downplayed the significance of Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate selection amid growing speculation that she is one of the front-runners for the vice presidential nomination.
“We’ve seen over the last few decades that who you pick as your vice president doesn’t determine whether you win your state,” the Democratic governor said Sunday during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.” “What it determines is whether you get your message right across the board.”
Pritzker is seen as one of the candidates to join Harris in the Democratic race, but NBC News reported last week that the field had been narrowed down to Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Democrats plan to confirm their nominees in a virtual roll call weeks before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to avoid legal disputes.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker attends the Clinton Global Initiative conference in New York City on September 19, 2023. (John Nasion/WireImage)
However, some reports had suggested the Illinois governor was at least under consideration by the Harris campaign and that review materials had been sent to him, but Pritzker declined to comment on that in an interview Sunday.
“I’m not going to talk about that. I’m going to talk about what I think is important in this campaign, and that’s winning, beating Donald Trump,” Pritzker told “This Week.”
Pritzker argued that “voters have been energized” since Harris began her campaign when it comes to defeating former President Trump in the election.
Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at a campaign event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (Daniel Steinle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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“Democrats are ready, and I think her message is going to resonate with people,” Pritzker said of Harris, who formally replaced President Biden at the top of the shortlist last week.
The Illinois governor also pointed to Harris’ experience as a prosecutor, arguing that her experience would resonate with Trump, who has been battling multiple legal challenges since leaving office.
Governor JB Pritzker argued that “voters have been energized” since Vice President Harris began her campaign. (John Nasion/WireImage/Getty Images)
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“She’s someone who understands that litigation is the path to victory, especially against someone who is a 34-time convicted felon and, quite frankly, a born liar, every day,” Pritzker said.
The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
