Pritzker says Trump ‘bewildered’ by Harris, new Dem excitement

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) said Thursday he believes former President Trump is “bewildered” by Vice President Harris and the excitement she has generated among Democrats.

“Kamala Harris is the perfect person at this moment,” Pritzker said on MSNBC’s “The Beat” to anchor Ari Melber. “We’ve got the kind of palpable excitement, the energy, that we really need in the party to carry us to victory in November, and of course Donald Trump is, I think, bewildered by it all. I don’t know that he has any idea how to handle the excitement that’s happening on the Democratic side, or Kamala Harris herself.”

Pritzker is among the many names floated as a possible running mate for Harris, the likely Democratic presidential nominee. His home state will also host this year’s Democratic National Convention later this month in Chicago.

“We’re planning a phenomenal convention here in Chicago. … the excitement is palpable,” Pritzker said. “The United Center, which is where the convention will happen, is being spruced up, lookin’ terrific.”

Besides Pritzker, other names on the vice presidential shortlist include Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Harris became the likely Democratic presidential nominee following weeks of turmoil in her party over replacing President Biden at the top of the ticket, prompted by a rough debate performance from Biden against Trump in late June.

According to an average of national polls from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ, Trump is leading Harris by 1.1 percentage points, with the former president garnering 47.6 percent support to the vice president’s 46.5 percent.

In an emailed statement to The Hill, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said no one “has ever been excited for a loser like JB Pritzker, so what would he know about excitement.

“The fact remains that Kamala Harris is weak, failed, and dangerously liberal, and no amount of gaslighting from her moronic, too-online campaign will erase her despicable record,” Cheung continued.

“We’re going to beat the brakes off them and there is nothing they can do about it,” he added.

Updated at 1:28 p.m.