As they first stepped out as presidential candidates on Tuesday night, Tim Walz turned to Kamala Harris and said one word: “wow.”
It reflected the enthusiastic response of the crowd in Philadelphia, but also the Minnesota governor’s unlikely journey over the past week.
Few had Mr. Walz’s name on their initial list of vice presidential candidates. But on Tuesday, the dark horse won the race.
In a year when “emotions” play a major role in politics — in economics, in the campaign — that’s exactly what Kamala Harris is all about: positive emotions.
The Minnesota governor has a “good-natured Midwestern” appeal, even as he throws political punches. His background—a teacher, a football coach, an Army National Guard enlistee—speaks of the “meat and potatoes of middle America,” as does his balding, round, slightly scruffy appearance.
All of this is on display in Philadelphia.
After noting that violent crime rates have increased under Donald Trump, he added—with a laugh—“and that doesn’t even take into account the crimes he’s committed.” He called the Republican ticket “weird as hell”—a label that became a Democratic slogan in a matter of days. And on the subject of abortion, he said the government should follow a Midwestern golden rule: “Mind your own business.”
Combining humor with satire — and speaking openly about the “joy” he sees in Democratic politics — might be a more effective way to persuade undecided voters who simply aren’t convinced by the dark “threat to democracy” rhetoric the Biden campaign has used.
Mr. Walz’s intimidating friendliness stands in stark contrast to the other choices — the urbane and ambitious Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, with his stern military demeanor.
Mr. Shapiro, who serves as the launchpad for the new Democratic ticket, received a warm welcome from his hometown crowd, a reminder that Ms. Harris had overlooked Mr. Walz — a well-spoken politician from the most important state on the electoral map.
Still, Mr Walz is a safer bet than the Pennsylvania native, whose criticism of pro-Palestinian protesters and support for using public money for private schools have drawn opposition from key segments of the Democratic base, risking re-igniting divisions within the party at a time when Democrats are finally coming together.
While Minnesota is not a battleground state, the Harris campaign may be hoping that Walz will capture the attention of Midwesterners in places like Wisconsin and Michigan, which will ultimately help decide this election.
By winning a Republican-held House seat in 2006, Mr. Walz demonstrated that he could win the support of a large number of rural and Republican voters.
And Mr. Walz has shown an ability to defend his progressive legislative record in a way that moderates and independent voters can understand.
He is also a native of Nebraska, which awarded one of its electoral votes to Joe Biden in 2020. It is the smallest battleground, but in a close race, it could be the difference between victory and defeat.
Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat who played a key role in convincing Joe Biden to step aside for Ms Harris, has repeatedly praised “the wonderful Mr Walz”.
No surprise. His 2006 victory helped deliver a majority in the House to Pelosi as Speaker, and to Democrats for the first time in 12 years.
Republicans will try to erase these initial good vibes and replace them with a darker picture.
Trump’s campaign has labeled him a “dangerous liberal extremist” and a “far left madman”.
They point to his record in Minnesota of enacting left-wing social programs and accuse him of not doing enough to control the protests that erupted after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in 2020.
At the very least, Republicans may welcome not having to face Mr Shapiro, whose more moderate stance could have given Ms Harris a decisive boost in Pennsylvania.
JD Vance, Mr Walz’s Republican opponent in the vice-presidential race, said the choice showed Ms Harris was willing to “bow to the most radical elements of her party”.
Meanwhile, Trump said Mr Walz would create “HELL ON EARTH and open the borders to the worst criminals you can imagine”.
But even as Mr. Walz becomes a more attractive target for Republicans, making that rhetoric stick to his friendly, down-to-earth image will be no easy task for the Trump campaign.
The new Democratic candidate has now launched his campaign with just 91 days to go until Election Day.
“It was easy,” Mr. Walz said of the three-month journey. “We could sleep when we were dead.”
