WASHINGTON (TN) — MSNBC’s Joy Reid argued Tuesday that Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) is the “safest” choice as vice presidential candidate for Vice President Kamala Harris, in part because he is as white as a “mayonnaise sandwich on Wonder Bread.”
“It would have been the safest, most conventional choice for me,” Reid said in a TikTok video. “White, super white like… a mayonnaise sandwich on Wonder Bread white bread.”
Senator Kelly was one of several candidates Harris reportedly considered as her running mate before she settled on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The Arizona lawmaker has drawn attention for his ability to win votes in the state, which has overwhelmingly favored Republican candidates for the past 70 years.
He also came into the spotlight when his wife, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, was shot and killed while meeting with her constituents in Tucson, Arizona, in 2011. Two years later, the two founded an organization to end gun violence and promised to “balance the influence” of lobbyists who opposed gun restrictions.
Senator Kelly’s twin brother also gained recognition at the national level: NASA conducted and later funded a study using the genetic material of the two astronauts.
Every single family member could have helped Harris and Senator Kelly win voters, Reid said.
“Gabby Giffords is a very compassionate wife who has been a victim of gun violence herself and is very involved in this issue. He has a twin, that would have been a cool story,” she said.
Speculation about Senator Kelly as a vice presidential candidate also increased because of the geopolitical situation of his state. Arizona has recorded the highest number of immigration checks by Customs and Border Protection since October.
He urged his colleagues to pass the Harris-backed legislation, which would have also funded border security measures. Reid argued that the senator could have made a “strong argument” for the vice president’s handling of immigration issues.
After Harris selected Governor Walz, Senator Kelly pledged her support to the Democrats.
“Vice President @KamalaHarris and Governor @Tim_Walz will move us forward,” the lawmaker said published to X. “They are already building a campaign to unify our country – and @GabbyGiffords and I are ready to do everything in our power to help them win.”
Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at [email protected].
