As the countdown begins for Vice President Kamala Harris to unveil her running mate, there’s been a notable shift in betting markets, raising the stakes for potential candidates.
Recent trends show Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stepping into the spotlight, now featured as the top contenders according to BetOnline.ag.
Just a couple of days ago, Shapiro was the frontrunner at 1/5 (-500), but his odds have tightened to -185. Walz, meanwhile, has skyrocketed from +1600 to +190, marking a significant comeback.
This shift in odds comes just before Harris is set to announce her choice for the 2024 presidential election. While these betting markets aren’t a guaranteed forecast, they often mirror important insights and public sentiment, making them closely monitored by political insiders.
Other noteworthy candidates such as Arizona Senator Mark Kelly have also seen positive movement, now sitting at +900, alongside Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear at +1400. Both are viewed as potential game-changers in states that lean Republican.
The rise of Shapiro and Walz has overshadowed some former favorites, with ex-presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg at +3500 and Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer languishing at +15000.
The recent fluctuations come after remarks from election expert Allan Lichtman, who highlighted Shapiro and Kelly as strong options, emphasizing the need for a reliable running mate should the presidency need to be assumed at any point.
Lichtman pointed out Pennsylvania’s critical role in elections, noting that the state holds 19 Electoral College votes. No Democratic candidate has won without Pennsylvania since 1948, underlining Shapiro’s enhancing odds aligned with the state’s voting trends.
In a separate development, PredictIt has indicated that Harris is now seen as a frontrunner for the 2024 election, with her victory shares priced at 52 cents, narrowly ahead of Donald Trump’s at 50 cents.
However, Trump still retains a lead in other betting avenues, like Polymarket, where he is favored at 55 percent against Harris’s 43 percent, though his margin has tightened following President Biden’s reelection withdrawal.
Polling data reflects a competitive landscape, with Harris closing the gap against Trump. A recent Morning Consult poll showed the former president leading Harris by just 2 points, an improvement over the 4-point edge he once held over Biden.