'She's Damn Ready': Shapiro And Whitmer Defend Harris, Bash Trump In Veep Auditions

AMBLER, Pa. — Two of the Democratic Party’s top attack dogs, Govs. Gretchen Whitmer and Josh Shapiro, gave what amounted to running-mate auditions at a rally Monday for the Democratic Party’s new presumptive presidential nominee in a Pennsylvania county.

Inviting an audience of newly energized Democrats to call her “Big Gretch,” the Michigan governor defended Vice President Kamala Harris from GOP attacks on her Oval Office qualifications, arguing that former President Donald Trump and top Republicans, more than anything, are just scared of her.

“Let’s be clear, Kamala Harris has more experience than the Trump-Vance ticket combined,” Whitmer told hundreds assembled in a high school gym in Montgomery County, a Philadelphia suburb, as she referenced Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. “Between the two of those dudes, they only have 5½ years ― and it’s not public service, it’s self-service.”

Whitmer called Harris, a former U.S. senator and California attorney general, “tough,” “experienced” and “ready” to continue Biden’s vision for the country. “The contrast in this election could not be more clear. Donald Trump bragged about overturning Roe v. Wade and sexually assaulting women. He lost tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs, including right here in Montgomery County.”

Shapiro, the first-term Pennsylvania governor, echoed Whitmer, saying that Trump won’t debate Harris because he’s simply too scared.

“She’s not only ready, she’s damn ready. You know who else knows she’s ready? Donald Trump knows she’s ready,” Shapiro said to rapturous applause. “You know how I know this? Because he’s afraid to debate her now, you see that? And it’s not just because she’s a skilled debater.… He’s a pretty good debater. It’s because