Kelly, 60, has represented the state of Arizona in the US Senate since the end of 2020, which is important for the outcome of the presidential election. Kelly was initially a fighter pilot in the US Navy before being selected by NASA for the 16th group of astronauts in 1996. He has flown into space four times – and has also written a children’s book about it.
In his Senate election campaign, he had campaigned for stricter gun controls – partly because of personal concerns. His wife, former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, narrowly escaped death in 2011 when an assassin shot her in the head at close range.
Good relationship with Harris
Kelly could also appeal to conservative voters, as he takes a hard line against irregular immigration. He is not considered the best rhetorician, but he is said to have a good relationship with Harris. His Achilles heel is his business relations with China, which he entered into several years ago. However, a departure as senator could be tricky for the Democrats in the Senate, as another candidate from his party would probably have far less chance of winning the seat.
IMAGO/Sipa USA Mark Kelly is considered moderate and adaptable
Shapiro made a name for himself as a prosecutor
Shapiro, in turn, could secure victory for the Democrats in Pennsylvania. A visit by Harris to the US state recently fueled speculation that she could choose the lawyer as her running mate. The 51-year-old is a strong speaker and can rely on high poll ratings in his state – even among voters who are actually Republican.
As Pennsylvania’s attorney general before his election as senator in 2020, Shapiro took action against Catholic priests who had sexually abused thousands of children and against the pharmaceutical manufacturer Purdue, which is blamed for the opioid crisis.
Left Democrats skeptical
However, progressive groups within the Democrats criticize Shapiro for recently siding with the oil industry when it comes to climate protection. And his statements on the Israel-Gaza conflict are considered sensitive. Although he called the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the worst ever, he found even harsher words for pro-Palestinian demonstrators in the USA, comparing them to the Ku Klux Klan. In this sensitive political area, he could scare off some groups of voters, observers believe.
APA/AFP/Getty Images/Hannah Beier Josh Shapiro also made a name for himself as a Trump critic
Three outsiders
Three other candidates are still considered to have a chance. Andy Beshear is the governor of Kentucky, a Republican bastion. Harris will not have much to gain in the presidential election there, but Beshear could win votes from the white middle and lower classes in the neighboring “Rust Belt,” the largest industrial region in the USA.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz coined the term “weird” for Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance – a phrase that Harris has since often used to describe his rivals. The 60-year-old is considered a politician who uses his simple language to reach voters without academic education.
Finally, the homosexual Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg is considered one of the Democrats’ great talents. The 42-year-old is rhetorically adept and charismatic. Buttigieg was previously deployed as a soldier in Afghanistan and was mayor of the city of South Bend in the midwestern state of Indiana. In 2019/2020, he applied for the Democratic presidential nomination. He lost to Joe Biden, but Biden was so impressed by Buttigieg that he brought him into his cabinet.
