Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday to lead the Democratic ticket in November and said he would hear out any request to be her running mate.
Mr. Beshear, speaking to MSNBC, said Ms. Harris is “smart and strong, which will make her a good president.”
“The contrast between her and those running on the other side couldn’t be clearer,” he told “Morning Joe.”
Ms. Harris is gathering support from potential Democratic rivals ahead of a formal nominating process. President Biden dropped out of the race on Sunday and endorsed Ms. Harris.
Mr. Beshear is a Democrat who leads a deep-red state, making him a potential vice-presidential pick for Ms. Harris.
Pundits expect Ms. Harris’ eventual running mate to have centrist bona fides to balance her image as a California liberal. Some online commentators have taken it a step further and said they fully expect the running mate to be a White male.
Mr. Beshear said he would be willing to hear out a vice president if he’s called upon.
“I think if somebody calls you on that, what you do is at least listen,” he said. “And I want the American people to know what a Kentuckian is and what they look like. Because let me just tell you that [Sen.] J.D. Vance ain’t from here.”
Mr. Beshear’s comment was a shot at former President Donald Trump’s running mate, Mr. Vance of Ohio, who rose to fame with his Appalachian memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.”
Some critics have taken exception to descriptions in the book that seemed to characterize denizens of the region as lazy.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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