NYT: You also go to Fox News and I am wondering why you do that.
Pete: Well, the reason I think it’s so important to take the message there is because I know that there are so many people who tune in in good faith. So I as a political figure, can hardly blame a voter for not being responsive to our message if they literally have never heard it. And we were in a very fragmented environment. Honestly, we were lucky if we can get to somebody through TV versus just even more fragmented internet sources. And I know that if I’m on that network, I’m one of relatively few voices with our message. And so if I didn’t go there to give that message, somebody might literally never hear it. I also know that you cannot assume who somebody is or how they’re gonna vote just based on what network they watch. There’s a lot of people who can be moved and sometimes the person who picked the channel is not the same as the other person who’s also in the house who’s listening to what’s being said. And so I think there’s a responsibility to take this message into those spaces. Sometimes when you explain what you believe to somebody, even if they don’t completely agree with you, they respect you more and, and are are inclined to maybe trust you and, and give you the benefit of the doubt. So that’s why I’m there.
However, one thing I’ve noticed is that Kelly hasn’t really been out there much this week. I’ve seen the others doing TV hits and rallies or campaign events for the admin, and I haven’t seen much from Kelly. That is a bit worrisome.
Can someone tell me what exactly happens to Kelly’s seat if it ends up being him?
At the end of the day I really don’t think VP matters that much (although Vance may be putting that to the test).
None of them take anything away from the table. Here’s what they might bring
Beshear: Nothing
Cooper: Probably Nothing (seriously don’t think NC is in play)
Walz: likeable, almost wish he were running for President instead of Kamala
Pete: he can dunk on them nonstop like no one else. Also if he wins, he will be tough to beat when Kamala is done
Kelly: Maybe AZ
Shapiro: Maybe PA
So all I’m sure of is
Shapiro > Kelly > Cooper > Beshear
Walz > Pete
If you want to combine the lists, it’s going to depend on how likely those four guys are to locking up their respective states. I don’t have a good handle on that. I guess I can safely say Beshear is dead last. He’s never delivering KY and his dunk attempts are weak AF.
I suppose it may not matter. Presumably Kelly stays in his seat until his term is up (IIRC, that would be pre-inauguration). If Dems lose bigly in the Senate, then Kelly’s seat being open for some time may be inconsequential. On the other hand if we’re close to 50-50, having that seat vacant even for a short time could be very costly depending on how things play out.
Kelly just won a full term in 2022, he’s not up for election so he can stay seated until inauguration day.
more practically though, in this situation where Harris/Kelley wins but the GOP has an incoming senate majority, he probably resigns before January 3rd and the governor replaces him immediately (before the new GOP majority is sworn in)