Several supporters of Arizona Vice President Kamala Harris told CNN they hope she will choose Arizona senator Mark Kelly as her running mate, praising Kelly's track record and arguing he would swing the battleground state in favor of Democrats.
CNN previously reported that Kelly was on the shortlist to be Harris' running mate.
Reasons Arizonans want Kerry as their candidate: They argued that his background as a military veteran and NASA astronaut made him a great candidate, and that his work on immigration issues as a border state senator set him apart.
“We're excited about Mark Kelly, partly because he's from Arizona, but really because he's a man of honor and good character who has served our country in so many ways and represented us well in Arizona,” said Scott Blades, a Tucson Democrat.
Kelly “isn't just a yes man,” said Bob Bober, a 67-year-old Democrat from Tempe. He accused Republicans, including vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance, of doing whatever former President Donald Trump tells them to do. “That would be a smart choice, because [Kelly’s] “As opposed to J.D. Vance, he's a man of conviction,” he said.
Some of Harris' supporters also pointed to Kelly's support for his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who was shot in the head in 2011, saying it speaks to the person he is.
“What a wonderful husband. He loved his wife so much that he tried to take care of her, and he realized he needed to finish the job that she didn't finish. That's amazing,” Cecilia Valdes, a Tucson Democratic national representative who worked on Giffords' campaign, told CNN.
Why Arizona Democratic Party leaders support Kerry: Democratic officials have warned that it depends on Ms Harris' choice but say Mr Kelly could attract new voters.
“Throughout the election, Kelly has proven that he can appeal to not only our base, but not only Democrats, but independents and Republicans as well,” Tucson Mayor Regina Romero said.
Rep. Greg Stanton said selecting Kelly would “guarantee” a Democratic victory in the battleground state, which President Joe Biden won narrowly in 2020.
