Vice President Kamala Harris is swiftly moving forward with her search for a running mate, as the vetting process has been condensed from several months to just two weeks. Harris has reportedly selected six finalists and is set to conduct interviews with them this weekend, according to anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

The six finalists for the position are: Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Attorney General Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona. Representatives for Beshear, Buttigieg, and Shapiro have confirmed that their previously scheduled plans for this weekend have been canceled.

This accelerated timeline for the selection process comes after President Joe Biden made the extraordinary announcement on July 21 that he would not seek reelection and instead endorsed Harris as his potential successor. Since then, Harris's campaign has been on a fundraising spree, raising an impressive $310 million in July and gaining consolidated support from various factions of the Democratic Party.

In addition to the running mate selection, Harris is also moving closer to her official nomination as delegates to the Democratic National Convention have begun online voting for their party's nominee. The voting process is expected to conclude by Monday evening. Harris's campaign has already announced plans for her and her vice-presidential pick to embark on a tour of battleground states starting next Tuesday.

Last week, sources close to Harris's campaign revealed that she had been considering around a dozen potential running mates. However, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, who was among the reported candidates, withdrew his name from contention this week, stating that the timing was not right for him or the state.

The decision of who will be Harris's running mate is a significant early test for her presidential campaign. When Biden chose Harris as his running mate in 2020, he emphasized the importance of having someone who shares his values and can immediately be effective in the role. Harris is said to be approaching the selection process with a similar mindset.

Interestingly, all of the reported finalists are White men, aligning with assumptions that voters may prefer gender and racial balance with Harris being the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent leading the ticket.

President Biden, when asked about Harris's decision-making process, stated that he had spoken to her but did not provide specific details. He expressed confidence in her ability to make the right choice, stating, "I'll let her work that out."

With a majority of Democratic delegates pledging their support to Harris, it appears increasingly likely that she will secure the presidential nomination next month. As the final decision draws near, the focus remains on who will be her potential partner on the road to the 2024 presidential race.