Ex-GOP lawmaker reveals why this Kamala Harris VP pick is best — despite 'some heartburn'

As rumors swirl this week about a possible Kamala Harris-Josh Shapiro ticket, a former Republican lawmaker weighed in on the possible pick, calling the ticket "formidable."

Charlie Dent, a former Pennsylvania congressman, told "The Situation Room" that Shapiro has cross-party appeal.

"We saw that in the gubernatorial election and frankly," he said, as he offered the vice president a word of advice, "Kamala Harris needs to be ruthlessly pragmatic right now."

"She cannot win this election without winning Pennsylvania," Dent added. "She can lose Arizona and still win the election. She cannot lose Pennsylvania and win the election."

That element supports Shapiro as the pick, he said, because Shapiro helps her cause in that state.

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One potential drawback: Democratic infighting over the Israel-Hamas war.

"Obviously the Democratic Party is pretty twisted up over the Israel-Gaza matter, and Shapiro is certainly pro-Israel, and that might create some heartburn for some Democrats, but I think he can actually appeal more to the center of the country than she can."

"If you're asking my opinion, I think she should go with Shapiro in a heartbeat."

Dent added: "He brings something that none of the other candidates can bring and that's 19 electoral votes."

Watch the clip below or at this link.