Shapiro on Democrats’ chances: ‘We’ve got a better candidate’

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said in an interview Sunday that Democrats have “a better candidate” when it comes to the presidential race.

“I think both candidates believe that Pennsylvania is critical,” Shapiro told ABC News’s Martha Raddatz on “This Week.” “I just think we’ve got a better candidate. We’ve got a better message. And what we’re experiencing as we’re out, is we’re seeing a whole lot more energy.”

According to an average of Pennsylvania polls from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ, Harris is barely leading former President Trump in the Keystone State, only up by 0.4 points. President Biden captured Pennsylvania in the 2020 election, while Trump won the state in 2016. 

“And so I’m feeling really good, not just about the way the votes seem to be lining up, which we get close to the end here, but the enthusiasm we have, and what that means for neighbors convincing other neighbors to step up and do their part to protect our freedom and democracy,” Shapiro said in the interview alongside his fellow “blue wall” Democratic governors, Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer and Wisconsin’s Tony Evers.

All three blue wall states are key to securing the White House for either Trump or Harris, and Harris blitzed through them in the last week. Harris is behind Trump in Wisconsin by 0.3 points and by 0.4 points in Michigan in averages of polls from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ.

Shapiro also said in the interview that he believes Harris would win in his state when asked by Raddatz about “who would win” in a hypothetical election “held” that day.

“I think Kamala Harris wins, but make no mistake, it’s close. We’re not afraid of that. It doesn’t worry us. It causes us to get out and work, and that’s what we’re doing,” Shapiro said.

The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign.