{"id":2319941,"date":"2024-08-06T11:42:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T15:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-does-tim-walz-bring-to-the-table-for-harris-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-06T11:44:46","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T15:44:46","slug":"what-does-tim-walz-bring-to-the-table-for-harris-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-does-tim-walz-bring-to-the-table-for-harris-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"What does Tim Walz bring to the table for Harris? &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhat-does-tim-walz-bring-to-the-table-for-harris-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2319941&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses Kamala Harris&#8217;s choice \u2062of Minnesota Governor Tim \u2062Walz as her running mate for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-rand-paul-offers-dr-rachel-levine-as-example-of-radical-agenda-riding-bidens-coattails\/\" title=\"Sen. Rand Paul Offers Dr. Rachel Levine As Example Of Radical Agenda Riding Biden\u2019s Coattails\">upcoming presidential election<\/a>. It emphasizes Walz&#8217;s appeal as \u200ba Midwestern candidate, noting his strong approval rating\u200d in a\u2064 Democratic-leaning state, which is part\u2063 of the crucial\u2062 &#8220;blue wall&#8221; that \u200cDemocrats need to maintain in battleground states\u200c like Wisconsin \u2062and Michigan. <\/p>\n<p>Walz is characterized as a progressive\u2064 figure who has championed various social issues,\u2064 including LGBT rights and gun \u200bregulation, but some\u2062 view\u2063 him as more centrist compared \u200dto other candidates. \u200bHis likability and relatability are highlighted, as he presents himself\u2062 as a regular guy with a background in coaching and family life. <\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Walz&#8217;s military service and rank as a command sergeant major in the Army National Guard are noted as unique aspects that could resonate with military voters. The article also contrasts him with Republican\u2062 nominee Donald\u200b Trump\u2019s running mate, emphasizing differing backgrounds and appeal to various voter demographics. Walz&#8217;s selection could potentially bolster Harris\u2019s \u2062campaign by tapping into Midwestern voter support and\u2064 presenting a compelling narrative.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">What does Tim Walz bring to the table for Harris?<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1724015\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Kamala Harris<\/a> chose Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3102857\/kamala-harris-tim-walz-vice-presidential-pick\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Tim Walz<\/a> (D-MN) as her running mate Tuesday, completing both the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Democratic<\/a> and Republican presidential tickets.<\/p>\n<p>Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) was also a finalist for the job, and many speculated he would be an asset in consolidating his state&rsquo;s support. Walz is a bit different than Shapiro.<\/p>\n<p>Here&rsquo;s what he brings to the table for Harris.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Midwestern appeal<\/h2>\n<p>Walz is governor of Minnesota, a Democratic-leaning state among the midwestern &ldquo;blue wall&rdquo; consisting of his home state, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois, that Democrats will cling to this November.<\/p>\n<p>Walz&rsquo;s approval rating in the state is 56%, solid for a state in which Trump received 45.28% support in 2020 and 44.93% in 2016. The <em>New York Times <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/08\/02\/opinion\/ezra-klein-podcast-tim-walz.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>called<\/a> him a &ldquo;midwestern dad&rdquo; who once coached football and appears as a nicely mannered figure in the area&rsquo;s politics.<\/p>\n<p>If he does sway midwestern voters who believe Walz represents them, he will have a large effect on Harris&rsquo;s campaign. That is especially true if he can help Democrats keep the battleground states of Wisconsin and Michigan, which have tightened even more since Harris became the Democratic nominee.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Progressive darling<\/h2>\n<p>Walz is considered no centrist. He championed LGBT rights in the late &rsquo;90s before most of his party did. The Minnesota governor passed universal free school meals, enshrined abortion rights into the state&rsquo;s constitution, banned conversion therapy, and provided protections for gender-affirming healthcare.<\/p>\n<p>While he formerly backed gun rights as a House member, even receiving an endorsement from a National Rifle Association PAC, he has since denounced the organization and regrouped around gun regulation.<\/p>\n<p>Walz generally moved to the left when he became Minnesota&rsquo;s governor, after being a more centrist member of the House. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) disagrees with those who say Walz is a leftist.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Tim Walz is wonderful,&rdquo; Pelosi said on MSNBC&rsquo;s <em>Morning Joe<\/em>. Harris &ldquo;had many good choices. Tim Walz, I know very well. He served in the House. To characterize him as left is so unreal. It&rsquo;s just not &mdash; he&rsquo;s right down the middle. He&rsquo;s a heartland of America Democrat.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Likability<\/h2>\n<p>A common sentiment among Democrats is that Walz appears to be likable and relatable. He coached football, is the father of two children, and, as one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/calls-to-boycott-ufc-erupt-after-mega-deal-with-bud-light-is-announced\/\" title=\"&#039;Boycott UFC&#039; calls surge following Bud Light&#039;s mega deal announcement.\">social media user posted<\/a>, has a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/B_L_Mencken\/status\/1820818862155137532\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>&ldquo;regular guy aura.&rdquo;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Post<\/em> called Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who ran with Hillary Clinton in 2016, a &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/local\/virginia-politics\/whats-a-nice-guy-like-sen-tim-kaine-doing-in-a-race-like-this\/2016\/07\/13\/f7965652-47a3-11e6-bdb9-701687974517_story.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>nice guy<\/a>,&rdquo; an image not unlike what Walz has cultivated.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s not the most charismatic guy, but he&rsquo;s a steady hand,&rdquo; Democratic strategist Raghu Devaguptapu told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/08\/06\/politics\/tim-walz-harris-vice-president\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>CNN<\/a>. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s really thoughtful, very likeable. He&rsquo;s done a really nice job of building a broad coalition of support. &hellip; That&rsquo;s the center of strength around Tim Walz.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Walz is also not afraid of being open with his personal struggles. He detailed his wife&rsquo;s fertility struggles to the <em>Star Tribune<\/em> earlier this year as Democrats have used IVF as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kim-kardashian-endorses-pro-cop-former-republican-in-l-a-mayoral-race\/\" title=\"Kim Kardashian Endorses Pro-Cop Former Republican In L.A. Mayoral Race\">central campaign issue<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Veteran<\/h2>\n<p>Walz has a unique place among <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-navy-seals-running-for-congress-unite-to-defeat-nancy-pelosi\/\" title=\"Watch: Navy Seals Running for Congress Unite to Defeat Nancy Pelosi\">military veterans running<\/a> for the highest political office. At one point during his 24-year military career with the Army National Guard, he achieved the rank of command sergeant major, the highest rank an enlisted member of the Army can achieve. Very few enlisted members ever achieve the rank.<\/p>\n<p>While he never saw real combat, Walz&rsquo;s military accomplishments could appeal to military-minded Republicans who recognize the rarity of his rank. It is a significantly superior rank to Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), the Republican vice presidential nominee, who served in the Marine Corps and reached the rank of corporal.<\/p>\n<p>However, Walz retired as a master sergeant for failing to complete coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. He could face political attacks for that.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contrast to Trump&rsquo;s running mate<\/h2>\n<p>When Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump chose Vance, he did it with the fact that he could motivate voters in Appalachia and in small towns with his <em>Hillbilly Elegy<\/em>, rags-to-riches life story. But Walz, not long after the selection of the Ohio senator, immediately disputed that Vance could relate to rural voters, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Tim_Walz\/status\/1815767280753537294\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>saying<\/a>, &ldquo;JD Vance might be from small town America. But he isn&rsquo;t for small town America.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That angst that J.D. Vance talks about in <em>Hillbilly Elegy<\/em>, none of my hillbilly cousins went to Yale, and none of them went on to be venture capitalists or whatever,&rdquo; Walz said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not who people really are.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/?d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title> <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Vance has proven more and more unpopular among voters since Trump selected him, and Harris&rsquo;s choice of Walz ensures he will face a strong contrast if or when the two debate. The governor has embraced the role of Vance&rsquo;s foil, calling him &ldquo;weird&rdquo; in a viral moment that Democrats have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/tech\/internet\/weird-jd-vance-trump-walz-history-kamala-harris-rcna164575\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>embraced<\/a> as a common attack against Trump&rsquo;s running mate.<\/p>\n<p>If nothing else, Walz will be the politically experienced, progressive alternative to Vance, and voters will take that into account in November.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1724015\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1724015\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What advantages does Tim Walz offer to Kamala Harris? On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris selected Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) as her running mate, finalizing the Democratic and Republican presidential tickets. Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) was also a contender for the position, with many believing he could help secure support from his state. However, Walz presents a different profile. Here\u2019s what he contributes to Harris&#8217;s campaign.<\/p>\n<p>**Midwestern Appeal**<br \/>\nAs the governor of Minnesota\u2014a state that leans Democratic within the Midwestern &#8220;blue wall&#8221; alongside Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois\u2014Walz is crucial for Democrats aiming to maintain these states in November. His approval rating stands at 56%, which is strong considering Trump garnered 45.28% of votes in Minnesota during the 2020 election and 44.93% in 2016. The New York Times described him as a \u201cmidwestern dad\u201d who has coached football and embodies a polite demeanor in local politics. If he can connect with Midwestern voters who see him as representative of their interests, it could significantly impact Harris&#8217;s campaign\u2014especially if he aids Democrats in retaining battleground states like Wisconsin and Michigan that have become more competitive since she became the nominee.<\/p>\n<p>**Progressive Credentials**<br \/>\nWalz is not viewed as a centrist; rather, he&#8217;s recognized for his progressive stance on various issues. He advocated for LGBT rights back in the late &#8217;90s before many others in his party did so. As governor, he implemented universal free school meals, enshrined abortion rights into Minnesota\u2019s constitution, banned conversion therapy, and ensured protections for gender-affirming healthcare services. Although he previously supported gun rights during his time in Congress\u2014earning an endorsement from an NRA PAC\u2014he has since distanced himself from that organization and shifted towards advocating for gun regulation policies.<\/p>\n<p>Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) disagrees with characterizations of Walz as overly leftist: \u201cTim Walz is wonderful,\u201d she stated on MSNBC\u2019s Morning Joe program. She emphasized her familiarity with him from their time together in Congress and insisted that labeling him as leftist is inaccurate; instead describing him as a moderate Democrat representing heartland America.<\/p>\n<p>**Relatability**<br \/>\nMany Democrats find Walz likable and relatable due to his background; he&#8217;s coached football and has two children while projecting an image of being an everyday person\u2014a sentiment echoed by social media users who describe him having a \u201cregular guy aura.\u201d The Washington Post compared him to Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), who ran alongside Hillary Clinton in 2016 due to similar perceptions of approachability despite lacking charisma according to some observers.<\/p>\n<p>Democratic strategist Raghu Devaguptapu noted that while not particularly charismatic, Walz offers steady leadership qualities: \u201cHe\u2019s really thoughtful&#8230; done a great job building broad support.\u201d Additionally, he&#8217;s open about personal challenges; earlier this year he shared details about his wife\u2019s fertility struggles amid discussions around IVF being central campaign topics.<\/p>\n<p>**Veteran Status**<br \/>\nWalz holds a distinctive position among military veterans seeking high political office due to his extensive service record spanning over two decades with the Army National Guard where he achieved command sergeant major\u2014the highest rank attainable by enlisted personnel\u2014which few ever reach without combat experience unlike other candidates such as Republican vice presidential nominee J.D Vance (R-OH), who served only up until corporal rank during Marine Corps service but may face scrutiny regarding how well they relate politically given their backgrounds.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast to Trump\u2019s choice of Vance\u2014who appeals through narratives like those found within &#8220;Hillbilly Elegy&#8221; aimed at rural voters\u2014Walz quickly challenged Vance&#8217;s authenticity regarding small-town America by stating: \u201cJD Vance might be from small town America&#8230; But he isn\u2019t for small town America.\u201d This critique positions Walz favorably against Vance should they debate later on while reinforcing Democratic messaging against Trump&#8217;s running mate through moments highlighting perceived oddities associated with Vance&#8217;s persona which have resonated positively among party supporters leading into November elections where voters will weigh both candidates&#8217; experiences accordingly<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2319942,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Walz_Harris_11.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[4021,5894,36113,32076],"class_list":["post-2319941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-harris","tag-politics","tag-tim-walz","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Walz_Harris_11.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319941","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2319941"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2319941\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2319942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2319941"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2319941"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2319941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}