Josh Shapiro has demonstrated popularity in Pennsylvania. Clinton did not. John Edwards did not have demonstrated popularity in North Carolina. Being a native son isn't a guaranteed free space, but being a popular native son usually helps a little historically.
As for winning the last 7 of 8, sure. But I hate when people don't talk about margins. In 2020, Pennsylvania was a ~1.17% margin. In 2016, it was a 0.72% margin. And right now it is polling as a ~1.2% margin, which with polling error is a wide window where Harris or Trump is leading.
There are great arguments against Shapiro, but let's not make bad arguments against him.