Mark Kelly dodges VP questions but pumps up Kamala Harris credentials as a ‘cop’

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) is considered one of the leading contenders to be Vice President Kamala Harris‘s running mate, and he is working to reinforce her record as a prosecutor by equating her to a “cop.”

Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign was hurt by accusations from the left flank of the Democratic Party that she was too hard on crime, but as a general election candidate in 2024, she and her surrogates appear to be leaning into the “Kamala the cop” branding. Kelly, speaking on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Wednesday, dodged the question of whether he would be the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee, but he did emphasize Harris’s law background while stumping for her.

“We need to move this country forward. Kamala Harris is absolutely the right person to do this. She’s an experienced prosecutor. She fights crime. My parents were both cops. I looked at Kamala Harris, as you know, as a cop, as a prosecutor, an attorney general,” Kelly said.

“On the other hand, you have a guy who’s a convicted felon, and I have a granddaughter now, she’s 3 years old, and I just, the example that Donald Trump sets for kids, growing up with with this divisive politics, with lies, with criminal actions, it is very concerning for me and for the future of our country,” he added.

When asked if he has been in contact with the Harris campaign, possibly regarding a spot on the ticket, Kelly said he would not “get into any of that” and reiterated he is “focused on making sure that Kamala is the next president.” He also said he would be in Arizona next week, as Politico has reported that Harris and her vice presidential pick will blitz several swing states next week, including Arizona.

Kelly is one of several Democrats being considered for Harris’s vice presidential nominee, according to various reports, alongside Govs. Josh Shapiro (D-PA), Tim Walz (D-MN), and Andy Beshear (D-KY), among others.

Harris is expected to announce her vice presidential pick by next week, and ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from Aug. 19-22.