Well, Democratic consultant Will Carly of Kentucky has worked with more than 40 political campaigns over the last 20 years.

A frequent commentator here on KCET.

I talked with him a bit ago about the change at the top of the ticket and the political stock that keeps rising for Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear as he makes headlines as a possible pick for V.P.. Democratic strategist.

Well, Carly, thank you so much for a few minutes of your time this afternoon.

Thank you for having me, Renee.

So let's talk about the big story of the week so far, and that's Kamala Harris, who today has seemed to secure enough delegates to be the presumptive nominee.

Democratic nominee for president.

There are some, as you know, Mr. Carly, who are saying this was rigged all along for her and that essentially there was going to be a coronation.

Your response to that?

I don't know where those people get that information from.

Look, I think Joe Biden had a very difficult debate performance.

He's been the best president in my lifetime, no doubt.

But we're obviously we're beginning to see him feel his age.

And in order for the country to move forward, Joe Biden does what he does every time and he put the country first.

I think Kamala Harris as vice president has served him honorably and has done a great job creating one of the greatest recoveries, an economic recovery in American history.

And the job numbers and the economy proves that, as well as ushering in an incredible amount of pandemic relief and making sure that working class Americans have a real shot at the American dream again.

So, no, I don't think it was some kind of conspiracy or a coronation.

I think it's a promotion really, for her, for her great work and all the things she's been able to do.

And I look forward to her being our next president.

So given the fact that all of this kind of came to a head around, what, 145 146 on a Sunday afternoon, and Kamala Harris, the vice president, is able been able to raise, if you count other money, she raised $81 million within 24 hours.

But that doesn't count other sources, which it's been said that that's history making when it comes to a presidential contest this early on.

What does that mean in terms of the delegate process now?

Right.

When the DNC I understand they're setting the rules for the convention.

How does this change what the convention would normally look like considering these developments, or does it change it at all?

So I think it's not going to change it.

Now, the Associated Press just ran a survey of Democratic delegates.

Vice President Harris has 1976 of them pledged, which is the threshold for sure that she will be the nominee.

So it's my understanding the party will do the roll call vote next week before it and the convention convenes and she'll be the nominee.

So I don't think you're going to see any positioning or jockeying around or a floor fight.

It doesn't look like there's anybody with any interest to challenge her.

Certainly.

No.

Incredible.

And they shouldn't.

So really, now what the storyline will be is who will she select as her vice president and how will that affect the ticket?

So you essentially just answered a question I was going to ask, Does where she stand with that delegate count meeting that threshold mean that that does edge out any kind of competition that could surge at the last minute that pretty much puts back to bed, you say?

Yes, I think that that is wrapped up.

Yeah.

Again, she has 1876.

That game is over.

Yeah.

So now let's talk about the VP position.

Right.

A lot of scuttlebutt around Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

And of course, he's commented on Morning Joe.

Yesterday we ran that sound where he talked about he wants to do what's in the best interest of Kentucky, But, you know, he'd have to give it some thought.

What are you how do you think he stands right now?

And who do you think it is, the top three contenders.

When it comes to VP selections?

I think, number one, I'm a big Andy Beshear Stan.

Right.

I'm a big fan of his.

He's the most popular Democratic governor in the country and one of the most popular governors period in the country.

I am certain he is on a shortlist for vice president.

I just don't think you can be have a better profile, actually, for somebody that's going to be Kamala Harris's governing partner for the next four years and running mate.

But I think other people on that list are obviously Governor Roy Cooper from North Carolina, Governor SHAPIRO from Pennsylvania, Mark Kelly from Arizona, who's a senator there.

And my guess is Governor Gretchen Whitmer from Michigan.

Some of the things we have to think about, though, are the dynamics that all consultants and strategists sweat over.

You know, should there be two women can we afford to lose a Senate seat?

Is Roy Cooper too old as well at 67?

Is Josh SHAPIRO in his first year in his first term as governor?

Is he too unseasoned?

So when you really look at everything, I think Governor Beshear actually fits the bill more closely than any other possible contender to be the next vice president, United States.

Right.

So what does he really bring?

I mean, he doesn't bring electoral votes, right?

I mean, Kentucky is going to be probably squarely behind Donald Trump in this election.

What does he bring to Kamala Harris?

Well, I think he has an incredible jobs record, number one, and incredible record and economic growth in a southern state that had trailed behind most of the nation for my entire lifetime.

But he also brings a sense of compassion and integrity.

He's a man of faith that really focuses on his family values and treating your neighbor like you would treat yourself.

I think those those values resonate in Wisconsin and Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Yes, in North Carolina.

And I think that will translate.

If you look at the history of running mates in the past.

There are not a lot of people that come from swing states.

It's people that can connect as well as the top of the ticket, whether that's Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Hillary Clinton pick Tim Kaine from Virginia, not a swing state.

At the time, it was pretty blue.

Donald Trump picks Mike Pence from Indiana.

It's I think, who's the best partner for you in the long term and who gives you strengths where you might have some weaknesses and where your weaknesses are?

What are your running mate strengths?

Right.

And I think for Kamala Harris, who obviously is from California and is, you know, been a prosecutor and vice president and a senator, she's never had any executive experience outside of that ag office.

Governor Beshear shares that ag office.

But he's also put in five amazing years as governor of a common of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

And I think his ability to talk about domestic issues, issues that states are facing and hostile state legislatures, because sometimes the Congress doesn't exactly get along with the executive branch very well.

He's shown that he can work within those spaces and really bring great results.

And I think that is something he definitely brings to the table.

Well, will Karl, a Democratic strategist, we always a preacher.

Appreciate your insights.

Thank you so much for your time.

Hey, thank you so much for having me, Renee.