Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) on Wednesday doubled down on her support for Vice President Harris, touting her years of experience in contrast to the GOP ticket.
“Kamala Harris in and of herself has more experience than the whole GOP ticket put together. They only have six years of public service experience, and I often point out to people, you wouldn’t go into brain surgery and ask for the freshest neurosurgeon out of medical school,” Whitmer said on the podcast “theSkimm’s 9 to 5ish.” “Experience is important.”
It follows her official endorsement of Harris, who is vying for the Oval Office after President Biden announced he was dropping out of the race. The endorsement was a major boost for Harris and shut down the possibility of the vice president facing a challenge from the popular governor.
Whitmer said she has “complete confidence” in Harris’s credentials and ability to unite people across the aisle.
Speaking on who Harris could choose as a running mate, Whitmer said she believes Harris will “pick someone that she trusts, that shares her values, that can step into the breach in the very unlikely event that they would ever need to, that they would be ready.”
“Knowing who she is, how she’s led, the way that she operates, the accomplishments that she’s wrapped up over her career, I’ve got faith that she will pick the right partner for her, and that’s the most important thing,” Whitmer continued, adding, “She knows how to build
teams. She, I know, values diversity, empowered diversity at the table, not tokenism. And when a leader is successful at doing that, you make better, well-rounded decisions. And I do think that is a value that she has, and I trust her judgment completely.”
The interview comes amid swirling speculation over who Harris will tap as her running mate. Whitmer, who serves as a co-chair of the Biden-Harris campaign, has been repeatedly mentioned as a potential pick.
Whitmer said the country would be ready for an all-female ticket, but noted, “I just want to be clear—I’ve made a commitment to serve out my term here in Michigan, and I feel like it’s important.”
“And I can be great help to Vice President Harris on the ground here in Michigan and that’s gonna be my focus. I think that she’s phenomenal. I do believe we are ready for a two-woman ticket,” she said.
In an interview prior to Biden’s announcement, Whitmer said she would “never say never” to serve as Harris’s running mate.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) have emerged as Harris’s top potential running mates.
The Democratic National Committee expects Harris to choose a running mate by Aug. 7.