This report has been updated.
The New York Times and CNN first reported Monday night that North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper had withdrawn from consideration to be the running mate to Vice President Kamala Harris, the almost certain Democratic presidential nominee.
The reports by two national newspapers, both citing anonymous sources, confirmed a Bloomberg story this morning that Harris' team had narrowed down her field to three candidates: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.
It has long been common for candidates seeking election to high-ranking government positions to withdraw early upon receiving news that they will not be selected.
Cooper confirmed the news in a post on social media platform X later in the evening.
— Roy Cooper (@RoyCooperNC) July 30, 2024
Cooper appeared at a virtual fundraiser hosted by the group “White Dudes for Harris” on Monday night but didn't directly mention the vice presidential candidate. He used his four minutes in the national spotlight to tell supporters that misogyny is rampant among Donald Trump and his misogynistic Republican base.
Cooper then focused on a series of statements allegedly made by Lt. Governor Mark Robinson, who is running for governor.
“Here are some nasty things that Mark Robinson said, and I think this is a not-so-quiet bit about MAGA Republicans. He said men should be leaders, not women. He said that when a woman gets pregnant, it's no longer her body. He said women who aren't responsible enough to pull down their skirts are having abortions. This is the disrespect for women that we see from MAGA Republicans, especially their leaders,” Cooper said.
Cooper called Harris a strong woman who cares about pocketbook issues. “So I would say to all of you, don't be afraid to talk to your friends about the importance of this election, the importance of electing Kamala Harris as president, and how important it is for our country. We all love our country and I know we can show that by getting to work now,” Cooper said.
As NC Newsline previously reported, Cooper was considered a leading candidate for the vice presidential nomination due to his status as a popular Democratic governor in a swing state that has almost always voted Republican in recent presidential elections. Cooper is nearing the end of his second term and cannot run again this fall, and his longstanding ties to Harris, dating back to his time as attorney general of North Carolina and California, were also seen as a strong selling point.
But some observers point out that at 67, Cooper is the oldest of the candidates and not known as a particularly strong orator. Some see that as a potential disadvantage, given that Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is the Republican candidate for the state's top office this fall, even though North Carolina law allows the lieutenant governor to serve as “acting governor” when the governor is out of state.
