Philadelphia mayor stirs controversy, confusion with post endorsing Shapiro for VP

In the wake of her seemingly instantaneous coronation as the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, Kamala Harris has sparked intense curiosity as she weighs potential running mates.

On Friday, VP speculation reached a fever pitch when Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker appeared to let slip the name of the person Harris selected to join the November ticket, as CBS News reports.

Video spurs confusion

Parker's campaign account was seen featuring a video that seemed to endorse not just Harris for president, but also Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as vice president, despite the fact that no announcement of his selection had been made.

The video itself was accompanied by a caption that described Parker as “Proud to be back with so many leaders from across our region supporting @KamalaHarris for President and @JoshShapiroPA for VP!”

“We are One CITY, One REGION, and ONE Commonwealth United!” the caption continued.

Not surprisingly, the appearance of the video and what looked to many to be a juicy leak, sparked all sorts of media attention, given the intense anticipation about Harris' eventual pick.

Adding to the credibility of the scenario for many was the fact that Shapiro had spent the prior several days campaigning hard for Harris across the Keystone State and had cancelled a series of previously planned fundraisers and also because the VP pick is reportedly slated for an appearance alongside the nominee in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Pressure campaign afoot?

An insider at Philadelphia City Hall suggested that the video posting was in no way some sort of accidental leak of Harris' true choice but was merely the mayor's hearty endorsement of Shapiro's candidacy for the role.

However, not everyone is convinced of the veracity of that explanation, with some suggesting that the post was a deliberate effort to put pressure on the Harris campaign to tap the state's governor for the national ticket.

Parker may have been acting in response to mounting opposition to Shapiro from political notables such as Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, who, as Politico notes, has let his feelings about the situation be known.

According to the outlet, Fetterman is of the opinion that Shapiro is heavily focused on his own political fortunes rather than on policy priorities or deeply held convictions, making him a poor choice for the number-two job.

Narrowing the field

Regardless of the debates brewing  inside Pennsylvania about the wisdom of selecting Shapiro, it appears that Harris has narrowed the field of prospects significantly in recent days and is poised to announce her decision imminently.

According to Reuters, the vice president on Sunday conducted interviews with finalists Shapiro, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) at her home in Washington, D.C.

With Harris expected to make the name of her running mate public as soon as Monday, it is certain that all eyes will be on the Democratic Party's campaign as the final details of the long-awaited presidential matchup are solidified.