Mark Kelly won't be VP, but he's now on future presidential shortlist
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Sen. Mark Kelly at the U.S. Capitol on July 31. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly won't be the next vice president, but his consideration as Kamala Harris' running mate secured him an extra level of gravitas as a lawmaker — and a spot on the short list of formidable future presidential candidates.
The big picture: Harris' unusually public VP vetting process allowed Americans to get to know Arizona's soon-to-be senior senator, and that is likely to grow his political clout, Democratic consultants told Axios.
Catch up quick: Kelly was one of more than a dozen names floated as a potential vice presidential nominee should President Biden announce he would not run for re-election.
- When Biden dropped out of the race and Harris launched her campaign, the VP list narrowed, with Kelly the only U.S. senator left. He was one of the final three candidates under consideration, along with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, whom Harris ultimately picked.
- Kelly, who isn't up for re-election in the Senate until 2028, launched video ads about his successes and ramped up his cable TV appearances in what appeared to be a quasi-VP campaign over the past few weeks.
Between the lines: Just surviving the vetting process puts Kelly in a strong position for a future national campaign.
- "If Mark Kelly wants to run for president in the future he's immediately in the small circle of people who have a shot," political consultant Andy Barr said.
- Barr said the fact that Kelly was able to get so close to the nomination illustrates that "the power players in D.C." recognize his influence and viability.
The intrigue: Political consultant Stacy Pearson told us Kelly's new national star power gives him more negotiating leverage as a senator and more weight as a fundraiser.
- Arizona has a strong tradition of sending heavy hitters to Washington, like U.S. Sens. Barry Goldwater and John McCain and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Kelly could join that list, which would benefit all Arizona Democrats, Pearson said.
- "It forces funders in particular to keep an eye on Arizona. Folks that want to get close to a potential future president are going to pay attention to his state," she said.
What they're saying: Kelly's team declined to comment, but in a letter to supporters after Harris announced Walz as her running mate Tuesday, Kelly wrote, "I never expected to find myself in this position."
- "Gabby [Giffords] and I are going to do everything we can to make Kamala Harris and Tim Walz the next president and vice president of the United States."