{"id":2320196,"date":"2024-08-06T18:20:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T22:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-harris-tapping-walz-says-about-her-campaign-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-06T18:24:13","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T22:24:13","slug":"what-harris-tapping-walz-says-about-her-campaign-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-harris-tapping-walz-says-about-her-campaign-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"What Harris tapping Walz says about her campaign &#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\">22<\/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-harris-tapping-walz-says-about-her-campaign-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=2320196&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>Ontested \u2064Republican\u200c district through a blend of \u2063congeniality, pragmatism, and \u2064a focus on local issues. He was known for his \u200cability to connect with constituents, understanding their concerns and \u200bworking to address them in a\u200d bipartisan manner. After serving in Congress for twelve years, he won the\u200d Minnesota gubernatorial race in\u2064 2018, \u2064further \u2062solidifying his position as a key player in Democratic \u200cpolitics within the state.<\/p>\n<p>As governor, Walz \u200bhas championed policies centered on\u2062 education, healthcare, and\u200b economic development, often seeking compromise with Republican lawmakers. His approach has been \u200ccharacterized as &#8220;steady and\u200b rational,&#8221; a contrast to the \u200cmore polarizing figures in contemporary \u200bpolitics.\u2063 This\u200c pragmatic style has earned him respect\u2062 from colleagues across the \u200baisle, potentially making him an asset for a\u200b Democratic ticket \u2062looking to\u200d appeal \u200bto a broader electorate.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the expected challenges from Republican opposition, including attacks on his \u200cprogressive \u2063policies, his background as a high\u200d school\u2063 football coach and military veteran might resonate \u200cwith voters seeking relatable, down-to-earth leadership. With the presidential election looming, his selection\u2062 as Harris&#8217;s running mate seems\u2063 aimed \u200dat solidifying\u200c support among moderates\u2063 and independents, particularly in the Midwest,\u200d where voters may appreciate \u200bhis centrist\u200d credentials\u2062 amidst a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/almost-half-of-voters-suspect-joe-biden-broke-law-regarding-son-hunter-poll\/\" title=\"Nearly half of voters believe Joe Biden may have violated the law in relation to his son Hunter, according to a recent poll.\">deeply divided political landscape<\/a>.  <\/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 Harris tapping Walz as VP says about her campaign and possible administration<\/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_1724370\" 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> picking Gov. <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tim-walz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Tim Walz<\/a> (D-MN) to be her running mate is the most important decision she has made since becoming the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2024-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>2024 Democratic presidential nominee<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Her decision underscores her desire to present the public with a biographically, geographically, and ideologically balanced ticket. It also shows she wants to have a campaign partner with whom she has personal rapport should they win November&rsquo;s election and need to become governing partners.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the possibility of popular Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/josh-shapiro\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Josh Shapiro<\/a> (D-PA) helping her win <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pennsylvania\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Pennsylvania<\/a>, Harris decided to tap Walz, who has been described by Democrats, including an adviser to President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Joe Biden<\/a>, as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/3109716\/biden-rates-josh-shapiro-highly-thinks-tim-walz-blast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>&ldquo;blast.&rdquo;<\/a> The pick echoes former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/barack-obama\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Barack Obama<\/a>&lsquo;s decision to choose Biden as his running mate in 2008, not only because of the balance of considerations regarding their respective backgrounds and experiences but also because of the public perception there was a camaraderie between the two men.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When a presidential candidate chooses a running mate, it says a lot about who they are and what kind of president they&rsquo;ll be,&rdquo; Obama wrote in a statement on Tuesday. &ldquo;By selecting Tim Walz to be her vice president from a pool of outstanding Democrats, Kamala Harris has chosen an ideal partner &mdash; and made it clear exactly what she stands for.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Like Vice President Harris, Governor <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Tim_Walz<\/a> believes that government works to serve us. Not just some of us, but all of us. That&rsquo;s what makes him an outstanding governor, and that&rsquo;s what will make him an even better vice president. Michelle and I couldn&rsquo;t be happier for Tim&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/s0RmVs7bGL\">pic.twitter.com\/s0RmVs7bGL<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Barack Obama (@BarackObama) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BarackObama\/status\/1820838206037794848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Former Obama <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/white-house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>White House<\/a> spokesman Eric Schultz sidestepped any comparisons among Obama, Biden, Harris, and Walz, but did describe Walz as &ldquo;the perfect complement to the vice president.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We now have a ticket that hails from urban and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/rural-america\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>rural<\/a> areas,&rdquo; Schultz told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;He represented a red district in Congress, has wide appeal in the Midwest, and has a strong record of working with Republicans to get things done. He&rsquo;s as likable and relatable as they come.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Despite his relatively low national political profile, Walz made his mark on the very short vice presidential selection process with his plainspokenness. He was the one who started dismissing former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Donald Trump<\/a> and Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jd-vance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>J.D. Vance<\/a> (R-OH) as &ldquo;weird.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>During the White Dudes for Harris Zoom call last week, Walz also referred to Trump as a &ldquo;bastard.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;How often in 100 days do you change the trajectory of the world?&rdquo; Walz said. &ldquo;How often do you get to do something that will impact generations to come? Make that bastard wake up afterwards and know that a black woman kicked his ass and sent him on the road.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&ldquo;How often in 100 days do you get to change the trajectory of the world? And how often in the world do you make that bastard wake up afterwards and know that a Black woman kicked his ass and sent him on the road?&rdquo; &ndash;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Tim_Walz<\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NrjYBfZ4nU\">pic.twitter.com\/NrjYBfZ4nU<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; David Hogg &#128999; (@davidhogg111) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/davidhogg111\/status\/1818104491826106643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 30, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Even Obama, whose former White House and campaign aides have also been hired by Harris&rsquo;s team, alluded to Walz&rsquo;s manner of speaking in his statement.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Tim&rsquo;s signature is his ability to talk like a human being and treat everyone with decency and respect,&rdquo; Obama wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of Walz&rsquo;s low name recognition, he is likely to &ldquo;do no harm&rdquo; to the Harris campaign, in addition to being &ldquo;unlikely to overshadow Harris in her historic bid,&rdquo; according to Northeastern University political science professor Costas Panagopoulos amid reporting that Shapiro&rsquo;s own presidential aspirations undermined his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-asking-his-allies-about-possibly-picking-nikki-haley-as-vp-report\/\" title=\"Trump inquiring about choosing Nikki Haley as VP, per report\">vice presidential candidacy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;One good thing about lack of familiarity with Walz is that there is not an extant reservoir of negative views to combat,&rdquo; Panagopoulos told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;The challenge for Democrats is to hurry to define him favorably before Republican attacks can tarnish his image.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Republicans have already embarked on that endeavor, with Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt criticizing Walz as a &ldquo;West Coast wannabe&rdquo; who has &ldquo;spent his governorship trying to reshape Minnesota in the image of the Golden State,&rdquo; Harris&rsquo;s home state.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;From proposing his own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/climate-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>carbon-free agenda<\/a>, to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-campaign-responds-to-kamalas-vp-selection-by-using-tim-walzs-own-words-against-him\/\" title=\"Trump Campaign Responds to Kamala&#039;s VP Selection by Using Tim Walz&#039;s Own Words Against Him\">suggesting stricter emission standards<\/a> for gas-powered cars, and embracing policies to allow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/criminal-justice-reform\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>convicted felons to vote<\/a>, Walz is obsessed with spreading <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>California<\/a>&rsquo;s dangerously liberal agenda far and wide,&rdquo; Leavitt wrote in a statement similar to ones she has disseminated regarding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/san-francisco\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>&ldquo;San Francisco liberal&rdquo;<\/a> Harris. &ldquo;If Walz won&rsquo;t tell voters the truth, we will: just like Kamala Harris, Tim Walz is a dangerously liberal extremist, and the Harris-Walz California dream is every American&rsquo;s nightmare.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Claremont McKenna College politics professor and former Republican operative John Pitney quipped that &ldquo;whiskey companies should encourage a drinking game where everybody takes a swig every time a Republican goes on TV and says &lsquo;liberal&rsquo; or &lsquo;left-wing.&#8217;&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Their stocks will soar,&rdquo; Pitney told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Expect many mentions of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/george-floyd\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>George Floyd<\/a> riots,&rdquo; he said of the 2020 racial justice unrest that started in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Minnesota<\/a> after Floyd&rsquo;s police-caused death. &ldquo;The attacks on Walz&rsquo;s liberalism will appeal to the GOP base, but it is not clear that they will sway the small sliver of swing voters who will decide the election. Walz comes across as an old high school football coach, which he is.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>To that end, although the Harris campaign has sought to distance her from the more liberal positions she ran on during her 2020 Democratic primary bid, more liberal Democrats have welcomed her decision regarding Walz.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Vice President Harris made an excellent decision in Gov. Walz as her running mate,&rdquo; Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/alexandria-ocasio-cortez\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez<\/a> (D-NY) wrote on social media on Tuesday. &ldquo;Together, they will govern effectively, inclusively, and boldly for the American people.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Vice President Harris made an excellent decision in Gov. Walz as her running mate.<\/p>\n<p>Together, they will govern effectively, inclusively, and boldly for the American people.<\/p>\n<p>They won&rsquo;t back down under tight odds, either &ndash; from healthcare to school lunch.<\/p>\n<p>Let&rsquo;s do this &#128170;&#127997; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/9vttVTC39Z\">https:\/\/t.co\/9vttVTC39Z<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AOC\/status\/1820819039955947605?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;The selection of Tim Walz as the vice presidential nominee is a clear indication that the Harris campaign is listening to the voices of progressives across the country,&rdquo; added Our Revolution executive director Joseph Geevarghese, who leads the pro-Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-VT) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/flashback-lincoln-project-cofounder-steve-schmidt-was-too-untrustworthy-for-donald-trump\/\" title=\"FLASHBACK: Lincoln Project Cofounder Steve Schmidt Was Too \u2018Untrustworthy\u2019 for Donald Trump\">political action group<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Kamala Harris chooses Tim Walz as VP!!<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Governor Walz has a strong pro-labor record and has shown a dedication to working-class issues, tackling corporate influence, and policies that benefit the many, not the few,&#8221; said Our Rev Exec Director <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JosephGeev?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@JosephGeev<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KoLnsaUseT\">pic.twitter.com\/KoLnsaUseT<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Our Revolution (@OurRevolution) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OurRevolution\/status\/1820821217974104575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Republicans have already scrutinized Harris&rsquo;s decision regarding Walz as another instance of her kowtowing to more liberal Democrats who protested Shapiro&rsquo;s vice presidential candidacy over his stances concerning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Israel<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/palestinians\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Palestinians<\/a> amid the war with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hamas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Hamas<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gaza\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Gaza<\/a> with their own &ldquo;No Genocide Josh&rdquo; campaign. Shapiro, who is Jewish, has adopted a similar posture toward the war as the other contenders.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, Republicans have welcomed Harris&rsquo;s decision regarding Walz because polling indicates her path to 270 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/electoral-college\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Electoral College<\/a> votes and the presidency <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/daily-memo\/2999605\/the-2024-electoral-college-map\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>appears to run through Pennsylvania<\/a> and the so-called blue wall.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Pennsylvania is undoubtedly in play, regardless of [the] VP choice,&rdquo; Franklin &amp; Marshall College Center for Opinion Research Director Berwood&nbsp;Yost told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;VP picks don&rsquo;t usually mean much in terms of vote shares, but I did think Shapiro brought specific attributes to the race that could have helped her in the state.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>But Panagopoulos, of Northeastern University, contended Walz could &ldquo;attract moderates, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/independents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>independents<\/a>, and possibly even appeal to Republican voters who may have reservations about Harris, especially in crucial, upper Midwest and Rust Belt states.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He may not be from a must-win swing state, but he&rsquo;ll certainly appeal to some voters who live in those states,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s doubtful this decision was made willy-nilly without careful consideration of all sorts of factors. Walz clearly had the right mix of advantages in the Harris campaign&rsquo;s view.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-manchin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Joe Manchin<\/a> (I-WV), for one, endorsed Harris&rsquo;s decision regarding Walz, arguing he will &ldquo;bring normality back to the most chaotic political environment that most of us have ever seen,&rdquo; a possible signal related to a Harris-Walz administration.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I can think of no one better than Governor Walz to help bring our country closer together and bring balance to the Democratic Party,&rdquo; Manchin wrote. &ldquo;Governor Walz is the real deal.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">My statement on Vice President Kamala Harris choosing Governor <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Tim_Walz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Tim_Walz<\/a> as her running mate: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bUON01Plsx\">pic.twitter.com\/bUON01Plsx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Sen_JoeManchin\/status\/1820840054538850399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Walz, 60, was born in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nebraska\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Nebraska<\/a>, where he enlisted in the Army National Guard when he was 17 and served for more than two decades, rising to the rank of command sergeant major. After working in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/manufacturing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>manufacturing<\/a>, he earned a degree in social studies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/education\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>education<\/a> and became a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-teacher-arrested-for-allegedly-spraying-disinfectant-at-students-who-didnt-wear-masks-properly-faces-felony-child-abuse-charges\/\" title=\"Florida teacher arrested for allegedly spraying disinfectant at students who didn&#039;t wear masks properly, faces felony child abuse charges\">high school teacher<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/football\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>football<\/a> coach following a year teaching abroad in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/china\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>China<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Walz and his wife Gwen, a fellow teacher, later returned to her home state of Minnesota. There, he ran for Congress and was elected to represent Minnesota&rsquo;s 1st Congressional District, a largely rural and agricultural district in the southern part of the North Star State, during the &ldquo;quasi-Democratic wave year&rdquo; of 2006, according to Eric&nbsp;Ostermeier,&nbsp;<em>Smart Politics<\/em>&nbsp;founder and&nbsp;Minnesota&nbsp;Historical Election Archive curator.<\/p>\n<p>Walz won that race against a six-term incumbent, former Republican Rep. Gil Gutknecht, by campaigning as more of a centrist Democrat compared to how he has governed Minnesota since 2017, per Ostermeier.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Walz was able to nimbly maintain his seat in a competitive, Republican-leaning district, eking out multiple single-digit victories, and then pivot to be seen as a more progressive politician during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign where he had to solidify some progressive support in a competitive Democratic primary,&rdquo; Ostermeier told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;Walz followed that up by signing almost all of the policies sent to his desk from the narrowly Democratic-controlled legislature in 2023 to solidify his progressive bonafides.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What has not changed about Walz, &ldquo;is his &lsquo;everyman&rsquo; approach and demeanor when being interviewed, talking with citizens, or giving speeches,&rdquo; Ostermeier continued.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In short, he has governed like a progressive without coming across as elitist or ideologically strident as some of his colleagues,&rdquo; Ostermeier said. &ldquo;By selecting Walz, the Harris campaign will look to seize upon his positive energy and hope that he can use his rhetorical skills adeptly to both assure Americans he is not as far Left as the Republican ticket will portray by highlighting the progressive bills he has signed into law as &lsquo;common-sense&rsquo; reforms, and also point out to the Democratic base that he has nonetheless been an ally in many of their causes.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p> <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_1724370\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1724370\"}});<\/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>Kamala Harris&#8217;s selection of Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) as her vice presidential candidate marks a significant choice in her campaign for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination. This decision highlights her intention to create a ticket that is balanced in terms of biography, geography, and ideology. It also reflects her preference for a running mate with whom she shares a personal connection, which could be crucial if they win the election and need to work closely together in governance. Although popular Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) might have bolstered her chances in Pennsylvania, Harris opted for Walz, who has been described positively by Democrats, including an adviser to President Biden.<\/p>\n<p>This choice mirrors former President Barack Obama&#8217;s 2008 decision to select Joe Biden as his running mate\u2014not only due to their complementary backgrounds but also because of the perceived camaraderie between them. Obama remarked that selecting a vice president reveals much about the presidential candidate and their future leadership style. He praised Walz as an ideal partner who embodies values aligned with Harris&#8217;s vision.<\/p>\n<p>Former Obama spokesperson Eric Schultz emphasized that Walz complements Harris well by representing both urban and rural interests and having experience working across party lines. Despite his lower national profile, Walz made an impression during the brief selection process with his candid remarks about former President Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Even though some Republicans have begun attacking Walz\u2019s liberal policies\u2014labeling him as overly progressive\u2014political analysts suggest he may not harm Harris&#8217;s campaign significantly due to his relatively neutral public perception. However, there is concern among Democrats about defining him positively before Republican criticisms take hold.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans have already criticized Harris\u2019s choice of Walz as another instance of catering to more liberal factions within the party while acknowledging that this pick could help solidify support among certain voter demographics in key states like Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<p>Walz brings a diverse background: he served over two decades in the Army National Guard before becoming an educator and eventually entering politics where he won elections by appealing broadly across party lines while maintaining progressive credentials during his governorship since 2017.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, selecting Tim Walz signals Kamala Harris&#8217;s commitment to building a coalition-oriented campaign aimed at addressing various voter concerns while navigating potential challenges from both sides of the political spectrum<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2652,"featured_media":2320197,"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\/kamala-harris-tim-walz-first-rally.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[4087,4021,27318],"class_list":["post-2320196","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-campaign","tag-harris","tag-walz"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/kamala-harris-tim-walz-first-rally.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2320196","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\/2652"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2320196"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2320196\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2320197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2320196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2320196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2320196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}