In a look behind the curtain, Shapiro says Harris’ accounts about him are ‘just blatant lies’
It’s rare that Josh Shapiro lets outsiders see behind the cool veneer he has carefully crafted.
The governor of Pennsylvania chooses his words with precision and delivers them in a manner that some have described as Barack Obama-esque. It has fueled his rise from a legislative assistant to state representative to attorney general to chief executive of the Keystone State.
So it is news when someone gets to see the other side of the 52-year-old Shapiro.
In a candid moment with Tim Alberta, Shapiro had some uncharacteristic comments on Vice President Kamala Harris and her new book, 107 Days.
During an interview with The Atlantic author, Shapiro’s demeanor clearly shifted when Alberta said that Harris had “taken some shots at him” in her book.
The writer shared with Shapiro that Harris had “accused him, in essence, of measuring the drapes, even inquiring about featuring Pennsylvania artists in the vice-presidential residence; of insisting ‘that he would want to be in the room for every decision’ Harris might make; and, more generally, of hijacking the conversation when she interviewed him for the job, to the point where she reminded him that he would not be co-president.”
His guard down, Shapiro blurted out about the art, “She wrote that in her book? That’s complete and utter bullshit.”
“I can tell you that her accounts are just blatant lies.”
He defended his actions during the interview with the former California attorney general who he had known for more than 20 years.
“I did ask a bunch of questions,” he told Alberta. “Wouldn’t you ask questions if someone was talking to you about forming a partnership and working together?”
Shapiro has a well-known reputation as ambitious. But Harris seemed to portray him in other ways – “selfish, petty, and monomaniacally ambitious.”
Asked if he felt betrayed by Harris, Shapiro dropped the gloves.
“I mean, she’s trying to sell books and cover her ass,” said to Alberta.
According to the author, there was a long pause.
“I shouldn’t say ‘cover her ass.’ I think that’s not appropriate,” Shapiro said. His tone was suddenly collected. “She’s trying to sell books. Period.”
At a moment where Democrats are trying to find a winning message against President Donald Trump and his administration, Shapiro, one of the party’s shining stars, seemed to catch himself.
An outspoken critic of Trump, Shapiro has also prided himself on never losing a lawsuit against the 45th and 47th president. He has challenged Trump on the withholding of funding for Pennsylvania, as well as its SNAP recipients.
His approval rating brackets the 60 percent mark and he is favored to win reelection next November.
After that, there is just one logical political step.
A popular, term-limited governor from the battleground of all battleground states would appear to be a natural choice for Democrats to be their standard-bearer in 2028.
That’s why a slip-up like Shapiro’s with Alberta makes news.
Trump lets things like that fly all the time.
Shapiro wants to make sure he differentiates himself in every way possible.
Steve Ulrich is managing editor of Politics PA.
