AMBLER, Pa. Two of the Democratic Party s top attack dogs, Govs. Gretchen Whitmer and Josh Shapiro, gave what amounted to running-mate auditions at a rally Monday for the Democratic Partys new presumptive presidential nominee.

Inviting an audience of newly energized Democrats to call her Big Gretch, Michigans Whitmer defended Vice President Kamala Harris from GOP attacks on her Oval Office qualifications, arguing that former President Donald Trump and top Republicans , more than anything, are just scared of her.

Lets be clear, Kamala Harris has more experience than the Trump-Vance ticket combined, Whitmer told hundreds assembled in a high school gym in Montgomery County, a Democratic-leaning Philadelphia suburb, as she referenced Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. Between the two of those dudes, they only have 5 years and its not public service, its self-service.

Whitmer called Harris, a former U.S. senator and California attorney general, tough, experienced and ready to continue Bidens vision for the country. The contrast in this election could not be more clear. Donald Trump bragged about overturning Roe v. Wade and sexually assaulting women. He lost tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs, including right here in Montgomery County.

Shapiro, the first-term Pennsylvania governor, echoed Whitmer, saying Trump wont debate Harris because hes simply too scared.

Shes not only ready, shes damn ready. You know who else knows shes ready? Donald Trump knows shes ready, Shapiro said to rapturous applause. You know how I know this? Because hes afraid to debate her now, you see that? And its not just because shes a skilled debater. ... Hes a pretty good debater. Its because he cant defend his record.

Shapiro had a message for voters who are beginning to forget about Trump and those days of chaos in the White House. Those days when you just didnt want to pick up the phone to see what he did that day. ... We dont want to go back to that again.

He added that following a Supreme Court decision establishing absolute criminal immunity for official presidential acts and the drafting of the right-wing policy agenda Project 2025 : [Trump] is dangerous. He is destructive. And the guardrails are off.