KY Gov. Beshear tight-lipped on Harris VP vetting process, but apologizes to Diet Mtn Dew
With vetting for the Democratic vice presidential nominee well underway, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has grown tight-lipped about his own role in the process.
He did, however, make a point to apologize to a soft drink at a Thursday news conference in Frankfort.
Beshear is confirmed to be among the names on a short list of potential running mates for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris. Anticipating questions about the ongoing “Veepstakes,” the governor read a prepared statement before he opened the floor to prodding from journalists.
“Let me start out with a statement, because I do believe I’m likely to be asked a question over and over, and I’m going to tell you up front this is my statement on it that I’m likely to repeat,” Beshear said. “I am honored to be considered, and regardless of what comes next, I’ll do everything I can between now and Election Day to elect Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States of America.”
When asked pointedly when he is meeting with the Harris campaign, Beshear evaded, instead repeating that he was “honored to be considered.”
He did the same when he was asked why his office won’t confirm he is, in fact, being vetted — something that has been widely reported by both national and Kentucky-based media outlets, including the Herald-Leader.
“Why can’t you say whether you’re being vetted or not?” Mark Vanderhoff of WLKY in Louisville asked.
“Well, I can say that I’m honored to be considered,” Beshear quipped.
Later in the news conference, the governor said this statement was the one he’s been “authorized to give at this point.”
Even before President Joe Biden stepped off the ticket Sunday, Beshear has said several times publicly that he “loves” his job as governor, and the only way he would “consider something different if if I thought I could help Kentucky in a bigger, different way,” he told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Monday. He repeated that sentiment again on Wednesday. He’d previously committed to serve his entire second term.
“Any change, it would admittedly be disruptive on my family, but if we can help the United States of America get to a better place, it’s better for my kids, too,” he said.
Beshear called former Republican President Donald Trump a threat to democracy, because he “refused to accept a full and fair election, took steps to try to overturn it, but also incited a mob that attacked our U.S. Capitol.
“We deserve better. I can’t believe he is somehow a presidential candidate after all of that.”
He said the “temperature of the country is too high,” and he believes Harris is the candidate to help lower it.
“She, like me, governs where people live,” he added.
Beshear closed the round of questions by setting an unopened bottle of Diet Mountain Dew on the lectern he stood behind.
“Sometimes, I’ve gone over the line,” he said. “I want to make sure I set the record straight, so I do owe an apology to Diet Mountain Dew.”
“Ale-8-One is definitely the soft drink of Kentucky, but I don’t believe the government should be making your decisions,” Beshear said. “If you enjoy Diet Mountain Dew, you be you; we want to support you.”
The bit was in response to a snippy exchange between Beshear and Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate.
Appearing on MSNBC Monday, Beshear said Vance “ain’t from here.”
Later that day in front of a crowd of supporters, Vance mentioned drinking the yellow soft drink, joking that Democrats might call a person who enjoys the beverage “racist.”
Monday night on CNN, Beshear said, “What was weird was (Vance) joking about racism today and then talking about Diet Mountain Dew.”
“Who drinks diet Mountain Dew?” Beshear asked. “But in all seriousness, he ain’t from here. He is not from Kentucky.”
At the Capitol Thursday, Beshear picked up the bottle and said, “to Diet Mountain Dew, I’m very sorry, didn’t mean to say negative things about you.
“Just remember: I am from here.”
This story was originally published July 25, 2024 at 3:12 PM.
