PHILADELPHIA — This commonwealth has become accustomed to being the center of political attention. But even as that status was confirmed by the debut rally of the Democratic Party’s freshly minted presidential ticket, Pennsylvania Democrats felt left out.
Scranton Joe Biden has been replaced by Californian Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket, and despite widespread anticipation here, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is not her running mate. Hours before Tuesday’s rally, that job went to Tim Walz, the governor of a state that doesn’t even border Pennsylvania. So what does this rally mean now to Philadelphians?
“If it was going to be Josh Shapiro, I’d be there,” Philadelphia city councilman and city Democratic Party leader Jim Harrity told NOTUS ahead of the rally. He helped give out backpacks full of school supplies to kids in the city on the last day of the National Night Out program instead of making his way to the rally site. That was a change in plans. He was a strong supporter of Shapiro to win the veepstakes and was excited to celebrate him at the rally.