Josh Shapiro is ‘not a No. 2,’ source says of VP vetting process
PHILADELPHIA — There were signs from the very beginning that Gov. Josh Shapiro might not have been the best fit for the No. 2 role, a factor that also played out in his interview and vetting, according to people with knowledge of the process.
In his interview with Vice President Kamala Harris’ team, Shapiro asked a lot of questions about the role and what it would entail. “He was trying to like, interview her back,” one person with knowledge of the process and Harris’ team’s reaction to it said. “He’s not a No. 2, he just didn’t fit the assignment.”
But those who know Shapiro said his thoughtfulness is also what has made him a successful leader. He’s methodical. He does his homework.
“I think if you’re gonna do something for four, potentially eight years, it’s reasonable to ask questions about what it’s gonna be like,” a person familiar with how the conversation went said. “I think the people who know and respect him and value his leadership, it’s because those are the kinds of things he thinks about and asks questions about.”
After the interview on Sunday, Shapiro also had a call with the Harris campaign acknowledging he was struggling with the idea of stepping away from being governor of the state — though he did not take himself out of contention, according to someone familiar with the vetting. Shapiro has long acknowledged he’s gravitated more toward executive roles.
“I’ve taken steps that actually a lot of people at the time would have said, ‘that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense,’” Shapiro said last week when asked about his political trajectory. He was referencing his run for county commissioner instead of Congress and attorney general instead of U.S. Senate.
“I wanted to be an executive. I wanted to serve my community,” Shapiro said. “... I’ve always tried to be true to myself and my commitment to public service, something that my faith calls me to do, my upbringing has called me to do.”
