LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced Monday morning his full endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee, just a day after President Biden withdrew from the race.
After appearing on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' talk show and publicly throwing his support behind Harris, WHAS 11 went to Frankfort and talked to Gov. Beshear about his comments -- specifically asking whether the two have had a conversation since the President's announcement.
Beshear said Harris called him hours after the news broke to ask for his endorsement.
"I was very grateful that she would reach out to me personally. She asked for my support and I agreed, and thus this morning I fully endorsed her and will do everything I can to help her win," Beshear told WHAS 11.
When asked on MSNBC if he would consider being Harris' running mate for the 2024 Presidential Election, Gov. Beshear said it's flattering he's being considered.
"Well let me first say, I love my job. I love serving the people of Kentucky," Beshear said. "The only way I would consider something other than this current job is if I believed I could further help my people and help this country."
Political analysts have noted Beshear's ability to win as a Democrat in a deeply Republican state. WHAS 11 asked him what he could bring to a presidential ticket, based on his experience in Kentucky.
"Well certainly we've shown that we know how to win. We know how to reach across the divide, and how to campaign in a way where we talk to people and not at them," Beshear said.
U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-Kentucky), a friend of Beshear's, says they talked after the President's announcement. On Monday in an interview with WHAS11, McGarvey took his endorsement of Kamala Harris a step further.
"I can't tell you exactly where [Beshear's] head is, but I can you tell what I'd love to see -- I'd love to see a Harris, Beshear ticket. I think that would be an amazing thing, not just for our commonwealth but for our country," McGarvey said.
On MSNBC, Beshear said Harris' strength and intelligence will make her a good president, but coupled with her kindness and empathy, she could be a great president. He also said her experience as a prosecutor will aid in her path to the presidency.
"She prosecuted rapists and domestic abusers. She stood for victims and put away those abusers," Beshear said on the show.
On MSNBC, Beshear also thanked President Joe Biden for being a "phenomenal" president.
"His decision, I know, was hard, but it's going to secure his legacy that I believe historians are going to say was a great presidency," Beshear said.
The governor pointed out the contrast between Harris and former President Donald Trump and U.S. Senator JD Vance.
"I believe her record is one of standing up for people, is fighting for the American people, and the record on the other side is just fighting for themselves," Beshear said.
Beshear is one of the most popular governors in the United States. He won reelection last November in a state Donald Trump won in 2020 by more than 20 points.
Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced he would no longer be seeking reelection.
Beshear has been a popular name tossed around in recent weeks to replace Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee, and now some are saying the governor is being considered as a candidate for vice president.
According to a report from The Hill, Beshear is one of three people on the "shortlist" to share the ticket with Vice President Kamala Harris, assuming she becomes the nominee for president. The report cites Democratic strategists and donors who said the list contains three people: Beshear, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D).
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) are not interested in being Harris' running mate, according to The Hill.
CNN's Jamie Gangel reported Sunday Beshear, Kelly, Cooper and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) are all being considered by Harris.