Arizona Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego praised Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., as a “great” prospective choice to run with Vice President Kamala Harris on the party’s presidential ticket.

In an interview on CNN Wednesday, Gallego said Kelly would give Harris a “jolt” ahead of the November election, when Democrats will face off again against former President Trump.

“Adding Kelly to the ticket will add that extra jolt to the campaign,” Gallego told CNN’s Manu Raju. 

“And I think it’d be great for Democrats across the country… again, as a border state senator, [Kelly] understands border issues; as an astronaut, married to Gabby Giffords… It’s a good combination right there,” he said.

KAMALA HARRIS VETTING LIST OF POSSIBLE RUNNING MATES WITH 4 STAND-OUTS: REPORT

Gallego is a Democratic candidate for Senate, running against Republican Kari Lake for an open seat vacated by retiring Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz. Gallego currently holds a 3.4 percentage point lead over Lake in the RealClearPolitics average of recent polls.

President Biden endorsed Harris to be his successor after his stunning announcement on Sunday that he would no longer seek the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. The president withdrew from the race amid increasing pressure from party leaders who believe he would lose to Trump after witnessing Biden’s halting debate performance last month.

Vice President Kamala Harris, right, prepares to swear in Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) with his wife Gabrielle Giffords in the old senate chamber for the Ceremonial Swearing on Jan. 3, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Harris has now taken over Biden’s campaign and announced earlier this week she had secured support from enough delegates to claim the DNC nomination. Her team is now in the process of vetting several possible running mates, including Kelly, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. 

Kelly’s Democratic colleagues in the Senate have spoken highly of him. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., the party’s 2016 vice presidential nominee, told NBC News Kelly would be a “superb” choice for Harris.

KEY ENDORSEMENTS POUR IN FOR KAMALA HARRIS AS VP SELECTION NEARS

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly is a top contender for the Democratic nomination for vice president. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Kelly has “enormous depth and wisdom,” as well as “real common sense” and an ability to grasp “very complex” issues quickly, according to NBC News.

Hailing from the key battleground state of Arizona, Kelly could assist Harris in locking up western states and provide credibility on the border, which he has said is in “crisis.” He has a compelling life story and career, being a former Navy pilot and astronaut. His parents were both retired police officers, which could help Democrats dodge GOP attacks for being too soft on crime.

Kelly is married to former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., who was shot during a campaign event with constituents in 2011. He cared for her throughout her recovery and continues to do so. Both are leading advocates of gun control reforms. 

Harris and Trump are locked in an extremely close contest, according to a new national poll conducted entirely after Biden announced he was suspending his campaign and endorsing his vice president.

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Trump, who last week was formally nominated as the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential candidate, stands at 46% support among registered voters in an NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll.

Harris, who on Monday night said she had locked up the Democratic nomination thanks to verbal commitments from delegates at next month’s Democratic National Convention, stood at 45% support. Trump’s one point edge is well within the survey’s sampling error. Nine percent of those questioned were undecided.

Fox News Digital’s Timothy H.J. Nerozzi and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this update.

PHOENIX — Rain fell in parts of metro Phoenix during the evening on Wednesday.

Traffic cameras from the Arizona Department of Transportation caught cloudy skies and rain falling on I-10 east of 27th Avenue.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued a severe thunderstorm warning for several cities, including Phoenix, until 10:15 p.m.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Phoenix AZ, Tolleson AZ and Komatke AZ until 10:15 PM MST pic.twitter.com/P74VtTZd9V

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) July 25, 2024

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Maricopa County rain gauges showed as much as 0.71 inches falling in parts of Phoenix. Parts of Glendale saw as much as 0.28 inches of rain.

More rain possible on Thursday

There is a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms on Thursday and a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms on Thursday night.

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GLENDALE — It’s an important year for Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker, on a personal and team level.

Baker enters the final year of his contract with the organization after years of service that will surely see him enter the Cardinals’ Ring of Honor when appropriate.

Baker’s proven invaluable both on the field and in the locker room – though everybody has a price in the NFL. Baker requested a trade last offseason before seeing more guaranteed money worked into his contract, though no extra years were added.

Day 1 of Cards Camp is complete. The Cardinals are officially underway with their prep for 2024, and Baker has yet to be extended.

Much has been (and will continue to be) made on his future with Arizona, but the star safety and likely repeat captain got up in front of all of his teammates the night before camp started and delivered a speech to rally the troops.

“He got up and talked last night. Off the cuff. He’s everything we’re about. He practices the right way, he prepares the right way.,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters.

“You should hear him in meetings – asks a ton of questions. He probably knows the answer but he’s asking the question because his buddy doesn’t want to ask the question. He’s a phenomenal person and he’s a phenomenal player. So I’m glad three’s with us and he’s going to play a big part in what we do this year.”

What was exactly said from Baker won’t be revealed to outside ears, though cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting was able to offer the following:

“Really just being ready, being excited for everybody that’s in the room. Having guys that he’s been so comfortable and having fun around. Eight years like he said he’s been in the league and he’s just ready to go out there,” said Murphy-Bunting after practice.

“He’s so enthused and so happy to be around the people that he’s around. Everybody that’s showed up has worked hard and has made him feel really good about the season going forward.”

Cardinals running back James Conner also met with reporters after Day 1 of practice and offered this:

“It’s huge. Budda’s been a guy who has done it right year after year after year. When he talks, guys listen. He’s been a captain every year for a reason and he’s our tone-setter for sure.”

New extension or not, Baker’s laying the foundation for this season.