CAMP HILL — When Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro visited a coffee shop just west of Harrisburg on Wednesday, he was, well, just the governor.
The weeks of intense media coverage of his potential selection as running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, had ended the previous day. When Mr. Shapiro was at the Nour coffee shop — reporters were told beforehand he would be there — he appeared largely unruffled by the whirlwind he had experienced.
He answered or graciously brushed aside a variety of questions, including ones on Ms. Harris’ selection process, on reported unenthusiastic comments from Sen. John Fetterman, a fellow Democrat, and on the overall unique experience. He also broke news of significant interest in Pittsburgh: Lawmakers may consider taking action in the next few months on a combined package of public transit funding and taxing so-called “skill games.”
Mr. Shapiro voiced no disappointment that Ms. Harris had chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. He called Mr. Walz an outstanding governor, a patriot and “the right guy for the job.”
Asked about the incessant speculation in recent weeks, Mr. Shapiro — a former county commissioner, state representative and attorney general — said he has learned to tune out a lot of chatter.
“I don’t get too high when people say nice things about me, and I definitely don’t get low when people say not-nice things about me. I am very comfortable with who I am,” he said. “I take great pride in having the sort of intestinal fortitude to block out the noise, good or bad, and just focus on doing my job.”
Another question dealt with media reports that Mr. Fetterman had reservations about Mr. Shapiro being picked as the Democratic running mate.
“I have never played small ball,” Mr. Shapiro said. “I am not going to start now.”
He also declined to pry open his experience of the selection process for public scrutiny. He and Ms. Harris, he said, had “a really good, honest dialogue.”
He reiterated his Monday statements that a lot of work remains to be done in Pennsylvania. He was asked about the potential for a resurgence in protests on university campuses in coming weeks, and situations where Jewish students might be made to feel uncomfortable.
“We have been very clear for months that universities have legal responsibilities to keep their students safe, all students safe,” said Mr. Shapiro, whose Jewish faith was mentioned frequently in the vice presidential buzz. “And they also have a moral responsibility to do that.”
Concerning the upcoming Democratic National Convention, Mr. Shapiro did not elaborate on his potential role, but said, “I am sure I will be speaking.”
Meanwhile, pollsters continued to digest the ramifications of Ms. Harris’ choice of Mr. Walz over Mr. Shapiro.
On Wednesday, Jim Lee, president and CEO of Susquehanna Polling & Research, said it was “definitely a setback” for Mr. Shapiro but that it would be largely forgotten in a matter of months.
“He is pretty tenacious,” Mr. Lee said.
In the bigger picture, Mr. Lee said it appeared to be a “Harris campaign misstep” that a strong-polling Pennsylvania governor had been bypassed for a Minnesota governor. Mr. Lee said it was difficult to imagine the calculation in which positives offered by Mr. Walz offset positives brought by Mr. Shapiro.
Mr. Lee said Mr. Shapiro has an 89% approval rating among Pennsylvania Democrats, and there are roughly 400,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans in the state.
“Pennsylvania has got to be central to their strategy of getting 270 electoral votes,” he said.
On Tuesday, Muhlenberg College political science professor and pollster Chris Borick said Mr. Shapiro would have to reconnect with his governing momentum following the weeks of national attention. On Wednesday, the governor appeared to be in the process of doing that.
Ford Turner: fturner@post-gazette.com
First Published: August 7, 2024, 7:52 p.m.
Updated: August 8, 2024, 2:34 p.m.
