Vice President Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) to be her running mate as she heads toward a November faceoff against former President Trump, according to two sources familiar. The Harris VP choice showcases her strategy to appeal to Midwestern voters. #HarrisVPChoice
Walz, 60, emerged as a dark horse contender for the No. 2 slot. Chatter over other high-profile names dominated the early veepstakes. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly were particularly mentioned.
But the Minnesota governor saw his profile rise considerably over the past week. His viral cable news interview played a big role. In it, he derided some Republicans as “weird,” a line later adopted by national Democrats.
His selection concludes a whirlwind two-week period. President Biden ended his reelection bid during this time. Harris consolidated party support and vetted contenders rapidly.
Harris had not made up her mind on a running mate as of Monday night, taking the decision up until the final hours.
Walz was also seen by many as a safer choice for Harris thanks to his liberal bona fides and the fact that some of the other contenders had come under fire from certain segments of the left. Shapiro received heavy scrutiny recently over his response to pro-Palestinian protests that emerged in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, and both he and Kelly drew the ire of union leaders. #HarrisVPChoice
Furthermore, the Harris VP choice highlights her focus on unity and diverse representation. Together, they aim to address key issues and bring balanced leadership to the nation.
