Democrats seeking statewide office in Pennsylvania are no fans of Gov. Josh Shapiro and have warned Vice President Kamala Harris that she should look for someone else as her running mate.
Treasury Secretary candidate Erin McClelland, in a social media post, hinted at criticism of Shapiro and endorsed North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper as the Democratic vice presidential nominee rather than his state’s governor.
“I want a running mate who is stable enough to be No. 2 under a woman, who is comfortable being vice president, and who won’t undermine the president to manipulate his own election or cover up sexual harassment,” McClelland wrote to X. “I want someone who can speak to rural voters, and that’s who I want to be.” [Roy Cooper]”
Her social media posts appear to be a reference to the sexual harassment scandal that rocked Gov. Shapiro’s office last year, when former senior aide to the governor, Mike Vereb, was accused of sexual harassment by a female subordinate. The governor’s office reached a $295,000 settlement with the accuser. But Vereb did not resign until six months after the allegations were filed. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported..
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Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania State Treasurer Erin McClelland speaks at an abortion rights rally. (Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Pennsylvania lawmakers have harshly criticized Shapiro over his handling of the scandal, with Republicans questioning why Vereb was allowed to stay in his position for months after accusers came forward.
Mr. McClelland’s comments, which rehashed the scandal, drew backlash from Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Sharif Street and other party officials who support the governor. Mr. Shapiro, 51, is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, with a 61% approval rating in a Fox News poll of Pennsylvania, a battleground state with 19 electoral votes to be decided in November.
Josh Shapiro speaks during his swearing-in as Governor of Pennsylvania at the State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on January 17, 2023. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion” Street he told reporters on Wednesday. “Whoever Vice President Harris chooses, we’re going to support her. I think she’ll do a great job,” he said at a press conference.
“But I can honestly say that I am upset by the post,” Street added. “I am personally upset and will be having separate discussions with the nominee for Treasury secretary.”
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North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is one of the leading contenders to be Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)
The offices of McClelland and Shapiro did not respond to requests for comment.
The finance candidate did not apologize for his comments and doubled down on his explicit criticism of Shapiro. New York Post interview.
“If I [Harris’] “In situations like these, I think very deeply about the difficulties women in top positions go through while the men around them have to settle for second or third or subservient to women,” she told media.
McClelland also said he had not spoken to Street since the controversy over his posts, but believed their relationship was “good.”
Biden’s border policies are likely to be expanded if the Democratic governor of this battleground state becomes the new candidate.
Vice President Kamala Harris and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (L) hold a press conference during a stop at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. (Ryan Collard/AFP via Getty Images)
“I’m astounded that someone would be upset about a woman with strong opinions,” she told the Post.
McClelland was quick to add that he would support the Democratic nominee regardless of who the vice presidential nominee is, but praised Cooper as the best choice.
The North Carolina governor “seems very comfortable with where he is and doesn’t seem to have any strong ambitions to become president,” McClelland said.
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“I don’t think he’s going to undermine Harris,” she added. “He’s great on public education, and that’s an issue that’s important to me.”
The New York Post reported that Shapiro has come under fire from the left for his support of school choice in Pennsylvania, but he also lost support from Republicans after he reversed course on a school choice bill that he previously supported.
