Bret Stephens and Gail Collins had a conversation about Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States. Stephens admitted that Harris had a stronger start than he expected, showing competence and connection with voters. Collins was not surprised by this assessment.
Stephens mentioned that he is not yet decided on voting for Harris, but the rumored choice of Josh Shapiro as her running mate would reassure him about a Harris administration. Collins agreed that Shapiro, the Pennsylvania governor, could be a good choice politically due to his moderate image and importance of Pennsylvania as a swing state.
However, Collins expressed frustration about the disproportionate influence of swing states like Pennsylvania in presidential elections, where one vote in such states is valued much more than a vote in other states like New York. She emphasized the need for a fairer electoral system that values every vote equally.
The conversation highlighted the political considerations surrounding Harris and the importance of strategic choices like selecting a running mate from a critical swing state. It also touched on the broader issue of electoral fairness and the need for reforms to ensure a more equitable representation of voters’ preferences in national elections.