In the first week of Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, a few vice presidential candidates have emerged as top contenders, according to an ABC/Ipsos poll published on Sunday. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro have taken the lead spots in terms of voter preference.

The poll revealed that Buttigieg garnered the highest approval rating of any potential VP candidate on Harris' list, with 29%. Following closely behind were Kelly with 22%, California Gov. Gavin Newsom with 21%, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer with 20%, and Shapiro with 17%. However, constitutional restrictions prevent Newsom from running on the same ticket as Harris, as both are California residents. Additionally, Whitmer has stated that she does not envision herself running for election in this cycle.

Buttigieg, who consistently ranks at the top of the VP polls, enjoys national recognition due to his previous presidential run and current position as transportation secretary. His husband, Chasten, is scheduled to hold a campaign event on Fire Island with second gentleman Doug Emhoff, sparking speculation about his potential role in Harris' lineup.

While Buttigieg's strong qualifications and campaign support for Harris make him a compelling choice, some potential drawbacks include his lack of ties to a battleground state and concerns about his association with the Biden administration, which some may see as a continuation of the status quo. Moreover, Buttigieg has faced controversies during his tenure as transportation secretary, including repeated transport disruptions.

Harris, who kicked off her solo 2024 campaign after President Biden dropped out, faces the task of selecting her VP in the coming days. The Democratic National Committee has decided to conduct a virtual roll call in early August to nominate Harris and her running mate ahead of Ohio's August 7 state ballot deadline, leaving little time for deliberation.

Congressional Democrats are pushing for Kelly and Shapiro as possible VP choices due to their representation of critical swing states and their potential impact on Harris' immigration agenda. Kelly, a former astronaut, has been vocal about supporting Biden's border plans and played a significant role in backing the Senate border bill earlier this year. However, his departure from Arizona politics may put the Democrats' important Senate position at risk in the next election cycle, raising questions about his national support.

Shapiro, who enjoys strong approval ratings and national recognition, serves as a Democratic governor in a critical state for the 2024 election. He has been an active surrogate for Harris and promptly endorsed her to replace Biden. However, some far-left Democrats have criticized Shapiro's support for Israel during the country's conflict with Hamas. Harris is expected to navigate her stance on Israel and Gaza carefully to appease Democratic voters.

Recent allegations of antisemitism have emerged against those who oppose Shapiro based on his position on Israel. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) condemned the smear campaign, stating that every potential VP nominee is pro-Israel, yet Shapiro is singled out unfairly. Torres emphasized that antisemitism should never dictate the selection of a presidential running mate.

Other potential VP candidates, such as Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, received lower approval ratings in the voter poll.

The ABC News/Ipsos survey was conducted nationally, sampling 1,200 adults between July 26-27, with a margin of error of 3%. As the deadline for Harris' VP selection approaches, the political landscape remains dynamic, with candidates vying for the opportunity to join her campaign.