James Carville says Fetterman must be 'dealt with' for VP pick interference: 'Backstabber'

WASHINGTON (TND) — Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville on Thursday said Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., needs to be “dealt with” for his interference with Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate selection.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was widely believed to be Harris’s first choice for the role. Sen. Fetterman this week reportedly expressed concern that his home state governor is too preoccupied with his “personal ambitions.”

The senator reportedly clashed with Gov. Shapiro’s less lenient approach to crime while serving together on the state’s Board of Pardons. The two also reportedly butted heads during Sen. Fetterman’s time as lieutenant governor.

Carville discussed the situation on his “Politics War Room” podcast. Co-host Al Hunt said Gov. Shapiro was his “first choice,” but agreed Harris’s decision to tap Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is a “good choice.”

“One of the great backstabbers in modern Democratic politics is John Fetterman, but I’m going to wait until after the election to deal with him,” Carville said. “He’s somebody that must be dealt with and must be dealt with in real time.”

He sandbagged Shapiro,” Hunt noted.

He certainly did,” Carville said. “Of course, the reason he’s in the United States Senate is because of Shapiro.”

The controversial senator has long defied being a “progressive” Democrat. Sen. Fetterman credited his recovery from his 2022 stroke for giving him "freedom" to speak his mind, adding the near-death experience taught him he no longer wants to "be afraid of if there's any kind of blowback."

READ MORE | Dems turn on Fetterman after 'Jerry Springer Show' comparison: 'Mad disrespectful'

Carville in July predicted Harris’s campaign will not go as smoothly as some in her party believe.

“It’s going to be very close, and I understand that people are feeling a lot better, and they're excited,” Carville said. “But that excitement has got to be tempered with realism, and the realism is she has a tough campaign on, and as you say, she’s got several things she’s got to accomplish at the same time.”

Pollster Scott Rasmussen told The National Desk (TND) Wednesday selecting Gov. Walz would likely be looked at as a “missed opportunity for the Democrats.”

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