The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been the center of the crafting of our democratic republic since its founding. It was one of the original 13 states and was the second state to ratify the 1787 U.S. Constitution, which was drafted and signed in Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
It seems fitting that the man who may be able to deliver us from our current democratic quagmire would hail from the Keystone State.
I have written several times before that the 2024 Democratic ticket should not include President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris. While I strive not to litigate points previously made, I offer the additional addendums to my previous arguments.
According to a recent CBS/YouGov poll, 72% of registered voters believe that Biden does not have the mental or cognitive health to serve as president. The electorate is not likely to move on this assessment and if they do, it may only get worse for Biden.
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Harris has different issues that make her a weak candidate. Harris was rejected by Democratic primary voters in 2020 and her primary campaign ended ahead of the first primary contest, election, the Iowa Caucus. Biden has effectively admitted that he chose Harris as his running mate in part because of identity politics and therefore, rightly or wrongly, the electorate is wary of her candidacy. The vicious, personal attacks on Harris from the GOP have already begun.
The most common response I receive from readers after suggesting a change to the ticket is, “Well then, who should it be?”
I have a short list of preferable candidates. And when I write “preferable candidates,” I am referring to candidates that I think are best suited to beat former President Donald Trump, who in my opinion is wholly disqualified to hold the highest office in the land ever again.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro remains at the top of that list. Not only do I think Shapiro would make a good president, I think he could handedly beat Trump in a general election.
The 51 year-old Shapiro is not only pragmatic but popular. In the 2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial race, Shapiro won with 56.5% of the vote, beating the Republican challenger in the purple state by nearly 15 points.
A Quinnipiac University Poll that found Shapiro with a 59% approval rating. Three other polls have shown Shapiro with at least 51% support from voters. Shapiro’s approval is ahead of other statewide Democrats, including Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman.
Part of Shapiro’s popularity stems from his practical leadership. Under his direction, the I-95 bridge, which collapsed after a tanker truck crash and fire in June 2023, was reopened in just 12 days and fully restored in less than a year.
Shapiro wrote in a Washington Post op-ed: “After a critical stretch of Interstate 95 — one of the nation’s busiest highways — collapsed in Philadelphia in June, experts told me it would take months to get traffic flowing again. Instead, state and local leaders and project managers on the ground made decisions quickly, thought creatively and worked together to rebuild and reopen the highway in just 12 days. The playbook we developed shows that Americans can do big things again.”
Shapiro also understands that effective governing requires forming bipartisan coalitions and compromise. While he was still the Democratic governor-elect, Shapiro nominated former Philadelphia City Commissioner Al Schmidt, a Republican, to be Pennsylvania’s secretary of state. It’s as a way to create a bipartisan administration in the politically divided state.
Shapiro is also an energetic and effective communicator who uses social media to connect with younger Pennsylvanians.
This presidential election is likely to be decided by a small number of voters in five swing states, Pennsylvania being one of them. Nominating a popular governor from one of those swing states would be strategically smart for the Democrats.
Pennsylvania’s nickname, the Keystone State, was adopted because of its historic geographic, economic and political position during the early days of the nation.
According to PA.gov, a keystone is an architectural term that refers to the central, wedge-shaped stone in an arch. This stone holds all other stones in the arch in place and is generally considered the most crucial part of an arch. Metaphorically, a keystone holds a system together.
Shapiro is the quintessential example of a political keystone, holding up the center of our political spectrum as well as bridging both sides of our polarized electorate. He is also a member of Generation X, which connects the two older generations with the two younger generations.
The Democratic Party would be well-served by giving Shapiro a look as its nominee, should Biden step aside. I have no doubt Shapiro could win and eventually occupy the White House that sits on the very street address of the state he would hail from.
Schmidt is a Post-Dispatch columnist and Editorial Board member. SchmidtOpinions@gmail.com. On Twitter/X: @Lynn Schmidt.