Shapiro seen as "valuable spokesman" on fracking if picked

• Republicans see Harris' 2019 support for a fracking ban — since abandoned — as a soft spot.

State of play: The governor has a moderate rep on energy, and Pennsylvania political experts tell me he could help Harris.

• Berwood Yost, who directs the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College, called the topic economically and symbolically important in rural areas.
• "Adopting some of Shapiro's ideas about fracking and energy could definitely allow her to turn the debate away from what is a losing issue for her," he said via email.
• "Shapiro has navigated the issue well in Pennsylvania and would be a valuable spokesperson for the campaign on this matter," said Christopher P. Borick, head of the Institute of Public Opinion at Muhlenberg College.

Catch up quick: Shapiro went after the industry as attorney general but has sought alliances with natural gas companies as governor.

• Last year he announced a collaboration on monitoring and chemical disclosures with gas producer CNX Resources, Axios' Nick Sobczyk reports.

The intrigue: One question is whether Shapiro's positions will turn off young progressive voters.

• But Borick tells me over email that "given the contrast between the Republican ticket and a Harris/Shapiro offering, it's likely that green oriented voters will be there for the Democrats even if there are some misgivings about Shapiro."