Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Wednesday dismissed critics who challenge the Democrats’ message of “hope and change,” even though President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have occupied the White House for the past three and a half years.
Shapiro appeared on “Special Report” live from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago ahead of his speech later that day.
Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier noted that Barack and Michelle Obama, who took center stage on Tuesday, struck a tone of “hope” and urged voters to change the course of the country’s leadership when they vote in November.
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaks during roll call of states on the second day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, USA on August 20, 2024. (Reuters/Kevin Wurm)
“So the Biden-Harris administration is going to last three and a half years,” Beyer said. “Isn’t this message of change and newness just ignoring three and a half years of the Biden-Harris administration?”
Mr Shapiro, who was seen as a leading candidate to be Ms Harris’ running mate, dismissed the inconsistencies, praising the administration’s efforts to promote energy independence and create jobs, but acknowledged there is more work to be done.
“We have made progress,” he said. “We still have a long way to go and much work to do. Kamala Harris will continue to campaign and offer a vision not only of hope but of meaningful change for our people.”
Baier further argued: “But isn’t it a delicate thing to say that this is hope, this is change, even though we have a Democratic president who’s been ousted in the last few weeks?”
He noted that some Democrats have also expressed concerns about the use of such messages.
“I respectfully disagree,” Shapiro responded. “Of course, I mean that respectfully. I think what Joe Biden did was truly patriotic. He understood that every chapter in American history is written by Americans and they leave their mark on the next generation to continue that work. And he’s done that here by passing the baton to Kamala Harris – by leaving her mark on her to write the next chapter. So I respectfully disagree. I think what he did was truly patriotic.”
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro campaigned in Philadelphia with Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz (not pictured). (Hannah Beyer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings The remarks became a talking point on Tuesday as liberal commentators hailed the Obamas’ comments and posed the same question to Democrats.
“All of these speeches were great, but the gap that I still see is that she’s in the White House now, and Democrats have controlled the White House for 12 of the last 16 years,” Jennings told CNN.
“Despite all the talk about division, domestic problems, and national suffering, the Democrats have pretty much controlled this country… and somehow, everything is still… [former President] “This is Trump’s fault, and somehow she wasn’t at the center of it,” he continued.
“So to me, that’s a glaring flaw in this campaign that hasn’t been addressed yet at this convention.”
Since President Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race, Harris has received positive media coverage and her approval ratings have soared.
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Former US First Lady Michelle Obama arrives to speak during the second day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 20, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to formally accept her party’s presidential nomination at the DNC, which runs from August 19-22 in Chicago. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
A recent Associated Press-NORC poll found that 48% of Americans are very or somewhat A positive view of HarrisThat’s up from 39% earlier this summer.
Fox News Digital’s Kristin Parks contributed to this report.
