Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris must win 270 electoral votes to be elected president.  She currently controls a solid base of 225 electoral votes.

In addition to her base electoral votes, Kamala has maintained a narrow, but steady lead in the swing states of Michigan (15) and Wisconsin (10), plus the Second Congressional District of Nebraska (1).  These additional electoral votes give her a current total of 251.

If Harris continues to maintain control of all these 251 electoral votes and achieves victory in Pennsylvania (19), which is currently in a dead heat, she will attain the magic number of 270 electoral votes and win the presidency.  Her victory path of Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and the Nebraska Second Congressional District will block any alternative path to victory on the part of Republican Donald Trump.

Thus, Pennsylvania has become the most significant state in the nation for Presidential Campaign 2024.  A key question now is whether there is a Republican whose endorsement would significantly increase Kamala’s chances of victory in the Keystone State.  Such a Republican would be following the admirable example of Liz Cheney in placing country over party to preserve American democracy.

The answer is none other than the former governor of New Jersey, Tom Kean Senior.  During his administration as New Jersey’s chief executive, from January, 1982 to January, 1990, his landmark accomplishments were televised over Philadelphia network channels on almost a daily basis.  Residents of Eastern Pennsylvania, most notably independents and traditional non-MAGA Republicans could be influenced by a Tom Kean Senior endorsement to place country over party and cast their ballots for the Harris – Walz ticket.  The voters of the battleground area of the Philadelphia suburbs would by and large be most receptive to the message of Tom Kean Senior.

Another key point for Kean Senior among Pennsylvania voters would be his tenure as Co-Chair of the 9-11 Commission.  His service was of outstanding quality and historic significance.

A preliminary question involves who should ask Kean Senior to endorse Kamala.  I would suggest a committee of four: 1) Kamala herself; 2) Liz Cheney; 3) Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who would be instrumental in persuading Kean Senior of the boost to Kamala’s chances in Pennsylvania resulting from a Kean Senior endorsement; and 4) former Member of Congress and Republican Governor of Ohio John Kasich, who is an ideological conservative who has endorsed Harris.  The Kasich request of Kean Senior may be the most significant of all.  Both Kasich and Kean Senior shared a key intimate political confidant:  the late former Republican Member of the House of Representatives from New Jersey, Bob Franks.

There is no doubt that the racist, misogynistic, unpatriotic politics of Donald Trump is totally repugnant to Tom Kean Senior, the man with the historic legacy of the Politics of Inclusion.  Yet it will not be easy to persuade Tom Kean Senior to abandon for this election a strong lifelong commitment of loyalty to the Republican Party.

Tom Kean Senior will have one legitimate, understandable, and overriding concern:  Will his endorsement of Kamala Harris negatively affect the reelection chances of his son, Congressman Tom Kean Junior in New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District?  The chances of his Democratic opponent, Sue Altman have increased markedly, due to the predictable Democratic turnout boost resulting from the anticipated Kamala Harris landslide in New Jersey.

Yet I do not think that a Tom Kean Senior endorsement of Kamala Harris will have a deleterious impact on the reelection chances of Tom Kean Junior.  Republican traditional voters and MAGA loyalists in New Jersey’s Seventh District are already aware of the vast difference between Tom Kean Senior and Tom Kean Junior regarding Donald Trump. They have no doubt as to the loyalty of Tom Kean Junior to Donald Trump and the agenda of the House Republican leadership.  An endorsement of Kamala by Kean Senior will not cause a departure of current Kean Junior supporters to vote for  progressive Sue Altman.

Tom Kean Senior is now a very young 89 years of age.  His endorsement of Kamala Harris and his role in saving America from the darkness of Trumpian autocracy and domestic racial hatred would serve as the final crown jewel in a lifetime of service to American democracy.  To paraphrase Tom Kean Senior himself – Tom Kean Senior, Kamala Harris, and Pennsylvania – PERFECT TOGETHER!

 Alan J. Steinberg of Highland Park served as regional administrator of Region 2 EPA during the administration of former President George W. Bush and as executive director of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. He graduated from Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin Law School.