Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Monday she is backing Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the ticket but is not interested in serving as her running mate.
“I’m not planning to go anywhere,” Ms. Whitmer told a WLNS reporter during an impromptu interview in Michigan.
Ms. Whitmer, a Democrat once rumored to be a potential replacement for President Biden, said she doesn’t want to leave Michigan.
“I’m proud to be the governor of Michigan. I have been consistent. I know everyone is always suspicious and asking this question over and over again — I know you’re doing your job. I’m not going anywhere,” she said.
Pressed on the one-day delay in her Harris endorsement, Ms. Whitmer said she needed to check in with party colleagues after President Biden’s surprise announcement on Sunday that he wouldn’t run.
“I think everyone was surprised by the news yesterday, even though there was a lot of conversation about it,” Ms. Whitmer said. “I wanted a minute to check in with my colleagues and let the dust settle, and I’m proud to be supporting the vice president for president.”
Ms. Harris is consolidating support from the party and getting endorsements from persons who might have been considered an alternative to Mr. Biden, such as Ms. Whitmer, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Her swift rise pivoted focus to the veepstakes. Ms. Harris will need a running mate.
While Ms. Whitmer isn’t interested, Democratic governors such as Andy Beshear of Kentucky said he would be willing to listen to a VP pitch.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis responded to the question with humor.
“Look, if they do the polling and it turns out that they need a 49-year-old, bald and gay Jew from Boulder, Colorado, they got my number,” he told CNN.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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