(The Center Square) – North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper was on the radar as a possible running mate to Kamala Harris should something happen well before Sunday’s social media bombshell from President Joe Biden.
In the 24 hours since, his name is just one of several being mentioned and oddsmakers say only Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is ahead of him.
Both are in pivotal battleground states, Pennsylvania perhaps more so given Republicans’ strength in winning North Carolina 12 of the last 14 cycles.
Cooper, term-limited as he finishes his eighth year in office, is a longtime ally with the Democratic Party to the Biden administration. He’s helped Michael Regan become the leader of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Mandy Cohen ascend to lead to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and fervently pushed environmental policies.
Just off his 67th birthday last month, Cooper now has a decision to make as he exits the governor’s office. He’s never left state office since winning in November 1984 a seat in the state House of Representatives, going unbeaten in 13 elections – three for the House, four in the Senate, four four-year terms for attorney general, and two four-year terms for governor.
Center Square was unsuccessful in getting comment from the governor’s office before publication. Questions asked were whether he is Harris’ vice president pick, whether he has been contacted, and whether he has aspirations to run for president himself this year or in the future.
Cooper commended Biden on Sunday in a release. Harris, 59, is yet to announce a running mate.
The 81-year-old Biden, for his part, didn’t face the cameras or take any questions Sunday, instead just sending out a message on social media saying he’s not running for president. At noon Monday, there was still no public sighting of him. His health has been a topic of concern since the June 27 debate against former President Donald Trump.
According to odds-maker BetOnline, Shapiro and Cooper are each at plus-225. Next is U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., at plus-350 and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear at plus-450.
Bovada and Polymarket were similar. At Bovada, Shapiro is plus-200, Cooper plus-250, Kelly plus-350 and Beshear plus-500. At Polymarket, Shapiro is 28% (betting yes is 28 cents on the dollar), Cooper 24%, Beshear 16% and Kelly 14%.
And at PredictIT, Shapiro is 33 cents (on the dollar), Cooper and Beshear 21 cents, and Kelly 20 cents.
According to OddSchecker, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is the clear leader at plus-1500. Next is Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at plus-3100, former First Lady Michelle Obama at plus-3500 and California Gov. Gavin Newsom at plus-3900.
At $markets, Shapiro is 37.3%, Beshear 20.4%, Cooper 20% and Kelly 15.6%.