USA Today reports that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who has been gaining some attention, is making waves with his energetic campaigning and straightforward comments becoming a notable figure in the vice-presidential race as US Vice President Kamala Harris ramps up her search for a 2024 running mate.
60-year-old Walz is a former army national guard member and high school teacher. Thus, he made an impact by putting on a show for Harris during his recent appearances. In order to stump for Harris on the campaign trail and make notable appearances on cable news networks like Parami News these efforts have included. Another recent event in St Paul in which Walz wore grey T-shirt and camouflage baseball hat has gone viral thereby accessing his rising profile.
“It was really humbling,” said governor Tim Walz referring to the speculation about him being chosen as running mate. So far, there is no confirmation from Walz if he had received vetting materials from the Harris campaign. While he expressed gratitude for being mentioned.
Political science professor at Hamline University David Schultz had words to say about how fast Walz raised in fame. He stated: “He wasn’t even on my radar screen or I think most other peoples’ radars as a potential vice presidential candidate but right now. He’s everywhere and he’s having a really great bounce.”
‘My state example of what happens when you elect Democrats’
Walz has been serving as Minnesota’s governor for two terms representing previously represented conservative rural district in Congress. He has implemented progressive policies such as paid family leave, universal school breakfasts and lunchings, legalizing recreational marijuana use, protecting abortion rights among others including gun restrictions during his tenure.
Schultz pointed out the way through which Wals pushes Democratic ideals explaining that: “He can speak directly to people about it because they can say look here I am an example.” According to Schultz also brought up younger progressives seeing his emergence on issues that matter to them.
Walz’s candidacy has found support among many people. David Hogg, co-founder of March for Our Lives and an “incredible VP” choice, praised Walz. “He’s such a real down-to-earth guy and he’s just a really good communicator,” Hogg said. And others have echoed this opinion calling him the real thing who can relate to voters on a personal level.
Walz was also commend by Tim Hogan, Democratic strategist and former communications director for Senator Amy Klobuchar’s 2020 presidential campaign. He further described Walz’s approach as a “Prairie Populist agenda”. Which has resonated effectively in the Midwest as it is now being introduce nationally.
Walz has, however, defended Harris’s record against criticisms, particularly those from former President Donald Trump, as her surrogate. “He’s gonna roll it out and mispronounce names,” she said on Parami News to make a case. “Where policies were make by Vice President Harris that Democratic governors have taken and done them better across the country so that now. We have much better lives in this area of life, good economies….better educational attainment.”
But Walz faces some difficulties in his vice presential bid. Unlike other contenders like Arizona senator Mark Kelly or Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, Walz does not hail from a main swing state. Nevertheless, his progressive record could also serve. The Republicans with ammunition for which they might describe a Harris-Walz ticket as ultra-progressive.
However, is Tim Walz too ‘liberal’?
“The guy is center-left by Minnesota standards,” Schultz mention about this. “If you look at the critical swing states across the United States like. Georgia and Pennsylvania he’s absolutely liberal in those states.”
Still Walz was ready with humor to address any criticism that labeled him a leftist radical; “What a monster!”. He said on Parami News “…So if they want to label me with that name then I’m more than happy going by it.”
Currently USA Today reports around 12 individuals under consideration for Harris’s running mate.
