Washington: North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has ruled out the possibility of becoming the vice-presidential candidate of Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s potential presidential candidate. Two people familiar with the matter have given this information. Cooper has expressed apprehension that if he is elected vice-presidential candidate, his lieutenant governor of the Republican Party will take over the command of the state if he goes out of the state. Kamala Harris has not yet been declared as the official candidate of the Democratic Party.
Cooper and Harris have good relations
Both people familiar with the matter said on the condition of anonymity that 67-year-old Cooper has withdrawn his name even before Harris’s potential vice-presidential candidate was found. Cooper, a former president of the ‘Democratic Governors Association’, has been close to Harris since the time they were both the state’s attorney general.
Robinson may take over
Under North Carolina’s constitution, the state’s lieutenant governor, Mark Robinson, can become the acting governor if Cooper leaves the state and assume the powers of the Democrats. Cooper has expressed apprehension that Robinson may take over the reins of the state if he travels out of state for campaigning. The New York Times first reported that Cooper has withdrawn from the vice presidential race. Harris’ campaign team has declined to comment on this.
