The safe, conventional-wisdom running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris is a middle-aged, middle-American Dad-type like Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania or Tim Walz of Minnesota or a military-astronaut guy like Mark Kelly of Arizona.

The bold choice is Pete Buttigieg.

No one can better build on the energy and enthusiasm Harris has generated.

No one else better defines the election as old vs. new, past vs. future and pessimism vs. optimism.

No one in politics today is a better communicator. Buttigieg regularly stalks into the Fox News den and owns the right-wingers.

His debate with JD Vance would be epic. If Vance shows up.

Yes, Buttigieg is gay. That’s a plus. He reflects the diversity and inclusiveness of real America: our families, neighborhoods and communities.

He’d be a stark contrast with the narrow, nativist, Christian-nationalist views of Trump and Vance.

Buttigieg is a husband, a father and a veteran who served in Afghanistan (photo). He’s been mayor of a city, dealing with people’s real-life problems.

He’s the Secretary of Transportation whom Senator Thom Tillis credited last month with “awarding $242 million to replace the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge!” in Wilmington.

He’s building bridges – and roads and airports – across the country.

Harris and Buttigieg can build a bridge to a new coalition, a new generation and a new day in America.

Pick Pete.