Josh Shapiro, Potential Harris V.P. Pick, Cancels Weekend Fund-Raisers
The Pennsylvania governor had been scheduled to headline events in the Hamptons for his own campaign committee. Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to announce her running mate selection by Tuesday.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, one of the front-runners to be Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, has abruptly canceled a three-event fund-raising swing through the Hamptons just days before Ms. Harris is expected to make her selection.
Mr. Shapiro had been expected to headline three different events throughout the wealthy New York island towns, according to invitations seen by the Times. But gradually, throughout Wednesday, hosts were informed that Mr. Shapiro would no longer take part, according to two people briefed on the matter. The Shapiro team had hoped the cancellation would not be made public until later in the week, but the news began to get out on Thursday, the two people said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the change publicly.
“The governor’s trip was planned several weeks ago and included several fund-raisers for his own campaign committee,” said Manuel Bonder, a spokesman for Gov. Shapiro. “His schedule has changed, and he is no longer traveling to the Hamptons this weekend.”
It is not clear that Mr. Shapiro's scheduling change says anything about his standing in the vice-presidential sweepstakes. The Harris campaign has recommended that several of its top vice-presidential contenders limit their events before a decision that is expected early next week. Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky has also
canceled some events on the advice of the campaign.
Still, it is unclear why precisely the trip was canceled. Michael Kempner, who was supposed to host one of the events for Mr. Shapiro’s campaign committee, said he had been told that Mr. Shapiro needed to be with his family in Pennsylvania. Another event was a “summer soiree” expected to be held for a liberal advocacy organization called the Next 50, where Mr. Shapiro was marketed as a “special guest.”
“Many are speculating that this is a sign he will be the vice president,” Mr. Kempner wrote in a note to his network announcing the cancellation, which was seen by The New York Times. “While this has not been confirmed, I continue to believe he is the best person for the job.”
Whatever the reason, the quieter schedule will prevent Mr. Shapiro from drawing additional media speculation over the weekend about his chances of being Ms. Harris’s pick.
Other vice-presidential hopefuls are going ahead with fund-raising on behalf of the Harris ticket. Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota is scheduled to headline a fund-raiser for the Harris campaign in Minneapolis on Monday evening, and Mr. Beshear is slated to appear at an event in Chicago, according to invitations reviewed by The Times.