WASHINGTON: Kamala Harris on Tuesday chose Tim Walz, the liberal Democrat governor of Minnesota, as her running mate for the 2024 Presidential election, doubling down on the left-liberal arrangement of the solution.
Walz, a 60 year old previous military veteran, professor, and father of two, was Harris ‘ future pick over Pennsylvania government Josh Shapiro, who was an odds-on beloved for his more centrist stand, but whose pro-Israel leanings finally appears to have gone against him.
” I’m pleased to announce that Tim_Walz has been selected as my working mate. As a government, a trainer, a teacher, and a senior, he’s delivered for working people like his. It’s wonderful to have him on the group. Now let’s get to work”, Kamala Harris said in brief statement on social media.
” To participate in this plan is the privilege of a lifetime. I’m all in. Vice President Harris is showing us the elections of what’s possible. It ties in a little bit to my first day of college. But, let’s get this done, people”! Walz responded.
A gray amiable person with thick light eyebrows, Walz is less known nationwide, but has become a social media star in recent days for his scorching, rapid-fire, and acidic attack on Trump Republicans, including caricaturing them as “weird”. In a few weeks, he has sparked more racial tension than most politicians have in a lifetime, including the rumor that a Black woman did give Trump his ass in 2024.
In a video tape that went viral, he made a fund-raising pitch before being chosen to become Kamala’s working partner, Walz, stating,” Make that rascal wake up later and realize that a Black person kicked his ass and sent him on the road.”
He is also avowedly progressive, having legalized recreational marijuana, giving former prisoners voting rights, and passed legislation that made the right to abortion, free school meals for all, and universal free education in Minnesota.
Given the GOP majority in both state legislative chambers, except when it comes to presidential elections, where it last voted Republican ( Nixon ) in 1972, Minnesota is frequently referred to as the red state ( or bluest red state ) in the country.
Walz served five terms as a congressman before resigning from the House of Representatives in 2019 after winning the governor of Minnesota.
Expectedly, Trump Republicans immediately jumped on Walz record, of which he is unapologetic, calling him “radical” and “dangerously liberal”, as they have done with Kamala Harris. In response to the riots in Minneapolis, they accused Walz of adopting a state flag akin to that of Somalia and providing drivers licenses to illegal aliens in Minnesota.
Indeed, the shadow of the middle-east conflict hung over Kamala’s decision, given that Shapiro, an observant Jew, was seen as strongly pro-Israel, with a stand that was seen as putting off young American voters agitated by Israel’s actions. Some observers believe that her choosing Walz over Shapiro risks jeopardizing her victory in Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state with 19 electoral votes necessary to reach the 270 required to win the presidency.
Shapiro however took the rejection like a sport, at least publicly. There is a lot more work I want to get done than my work here in Pennsylvania, according to the governor. I’m looking forward to defeating Donald Trump by traveling across the state over the next 90 days, he said in a statement. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi among other party veterans also welcomed the choice of Walz as the veep nominee, noting his progressive credentials.
Both Shapiro and Walz are scheduled to appear with Harris at rally on Tuesday evening in Pennsylvania, followed by events in six other competitive states — Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada– in the run-up to the Democratic Convention in Chicago on August 19.
