There were two governors who could have been chosen by Vice President Kamala Harris as her running mate — one who promised the 2024 battleground with the largest population but would alienate important party caucuses, and a little-known candidate from an unequivocally liberal state with a progressive agenda.
The choice of Walz over Shapiro in Pennsylvania was made because he is more charismatic than the latter. Walz, who had previously referred to Donald Trump and JD Vance as “weird,” rallied many Democrats when he called them that during last year’s general elections.
Walz’s selection finalizes a two weeks’ remodelling of the Democrats ticket after Joe Biden ended his reelection bid basing the party’s hopes on the turnout of their very progressive voters and rank-and-file labor members whose support for him has gradually waned.
But what does Walz require? Retrieve Democratic factions that abandoned Biden and revive economic policies that are central to this party’s growing popularity across America, especially in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin
For Walz, uniting democratic base as well as expanding its appeal were demonstrated through independent Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia (a one-time centrist Democrat) and Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York (a liberal firebrand) supporting his candidacy or being willing to vote for him.
Walz could “bring normality back to the most chaotic political environment,” Manchin stated. In response, Ocasio-Cortez hailed his addition to Harris’ ticket saying they will “govern effectively, inclusively, and boldly” which she described “as an excellent decision” on her X post.
This pick also shows how Harris has turned around a map that had Republicans thinking about Minnesota just last month.
His selection comes following years where he was known for speaking plainly; it would be best if we resorted to some specific incidents during his new role in order understand the country better.
“Those guys are just strange,” Walz had said while referring to Trump in order to make Democrats find a rallying point against him. Trump was convicted for some felonies and his policies often tested the limits of American law but he led Biden in most summer polls.
Walz is greeted by praise from progressives and organized labor leaders that lobbied for his naming. President Liz Shuler of AFL-CIO stated on Tuesday that he was “a worker’s champion.”
While governor, Walz signed into law measures that guarantee free breakfast and lunch for pupils, expanded child care as well as paid family leave, sickly for instance — all these matters have been magnified amidst skyrocketing prices and anxiety over jobs and salaries. The Democrats will focus on pocketbook issues because Harris seeks to offset one of her main vulnerabilities; people’s dissatisfaction with Biden who they think has not done enough concerning the economy.
Trump made progress with blue-collar workers, which Vance attempted to build on through his completely populist economic policy proposal. This is something that Walz has to address. While union leaders have endorsed Harris, rank-and-file laborers have been less supportive due to concerns about the Biden clean energy program.
Ticket Balance
Walz was chosen from a list of mostly White male politicians, which included Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona to ensure that the ticket is well-balanced for this unprecedented occasion. Harris is running to be the 1st African American lady and an Asian US president.
He had previously been in the Army National Guard before becoming a high school teacher. In Congress, his focus was on military matters and veterans as well as agriculture – areas where he can complement Harris.
At times, Walz has shown himself to be independent minded; for example, before going on to impose restrictions on guns he earned an endorsement from NRA and he was one of several Democrats who voted once against Eric Holder by way of contempt. It’s worth mentioning that Holder would later play a role in vetting Harris’ potential running mates.
On Tuesday last week former Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised Walz stating “Growing up as a child working on the farm, Governor Tim Walz knows the heartland of America.”
Democrats may take Minnesota for granted when it comes to Walz’s state. Minnesota hasn’t given its electoral votes to any Republican presidential nominee since Richard Nixon won there during his landslide reelection in 1972. However, neighboring Wisconsin is a swing state and Nebraska, where Walz hails from, doesn’t allocate all five electoral votes to a single winner thus leaving room for growth.
While offering Pennsylvania as their deal flow Shapiro jeopardized its support among Democrats due to his pro-trump stance over Hamas-Israel fight.
During an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt Vance accused Harris of failing to pick Shapiro because “antisemitism in their own caucus” .
GOP Attacks
One hurdle that might get in front of him is that he lacks national recognition. We do not know what impression we have about Walz according to Parami News/ Ipsos poll conducted between July 26-27 where 57% said they did not know anything about him and nearly 1/3 of them had no opinion at all.
Republicans cheered the choice and knocked Walz as too liberal for their constituents, posting images of civil unrest in his state following George Floyd’s murder to indicate that crime and race will stay at the top of election-season conversations.
Trump during a rally in Minnesota on July portrayed Walz as being unable to manage last year’s protests. “When the violent mobs of anarchists and looters and Marxists came to burn down Minneapolis four years ago, remember me, I couldn’t get your governor to act,” Trump said.
In an attempt to define Walz, Trump’s campaign called him a “dangerously liberal extremist” in a statement issued Tuesday and released a video which portrayed him as “a rubber stamp” for Harris’ agenda.
The chair of Democratic Governors Association was also criticised by his counterparts from Republican Governors Association, who is Walz.
“His record shows that he consistently backs the most liberal policies that national Democrats have to offer,” said RGA Executive Director Sara Craig in a memo.
He’ll fly into Philadelphia this Tuesday evening for a rally where he wants voters to know more about him.
According to ex-Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, Walz could communicate Harris’ liberal philosophy differently.
“He’s like Bernie Sanders in hunting gear,” said Pawlenty.
