The Handwriting is on the Wallz
In the end, Kamala Harris went with the weird choice. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, whose plainspoken definition of Trump and Vance as “just weird” has gone viral in recent weeks, has been selected to join Harris on the Democratic ticket. Trump almost immediately described Walz as a left wing extremist who will UNLEASH HELL ON EARTH (caps his, not mine, obviously). One of the reasons Harris selected Walz is because he’s about as American heartland as you can get. Yes, he’s extreme. Extremely American. He taught history, he doesn’t try to rewrite it. He served in the National Guard for 24 years. He likes it when more people vote. He’s pro democracy. He doesn’t despise women. He was a football coach. He hunts. He’s a poster child for midwestern America. He’s a good, decent person. They’re gonna try to paint him as a radical. But folks, that dog don’t hunt.
There are two big questions facing Walz from the get go. First, can he unite and excite the Democratic base? That one seems easy. Within minutes of the pick, Walz received raves from AOC and Joe Manchin. Second, can he attract undecided and/or Trump-curious voters? He’s been successful at unifying Minnesota. Whether or not he can do the same across the battleground states will be one deciding factor in the race. While he’s called Trump and Vance weird, he has long urged Dems not to do the same when it comes to how they describe their fellow Americans who may have different political, religious, or cultural leanings. As I’ve said many times, in this election I’m a one issue voter. That issue is Democracy. And when it comes to that, and several related issues, Tim Walz makes JD Vance look like JD Vance by comparison.
+ This is a defining moment for Tim Walz, in large part because most Americans haven’t heard of Tim Walz. So let’s start with these five things to know about Tim Walz. (The biggie: “He has a proven ability to connect with conservative voters.”) For a bit more, here are 19 Facts About Tim Walz. (If you’re looking for some common ground among the VP opponents, they both like Diet Mountain Dew.)
+ He’s got Big D Energy (D as in Dad). Here he is at the State Fair with his daughter, Hope.
+ This is probably a good time to remind you just how biased I am when it comes to certain issues. I have a bit of a bias toward politicians who have named highways after Prince (and that bias increases markedly when I learn that the bill was signed in purple ink). I have a deep, but somewhat controllable, bias in favor of politicians who have issued proclamations declaring a Beyonce Day. I have a deep and not at all controllable bias in favor of politicians who have proclaimed a Bruce Springsteen Day. Three months to go. Come on out for the rising.
