Kamala Harris has made a surprising choice: Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, is to be her number two in the race for the White House.
In the end, there were only two left: Kamala Harris, the newly elected presidential candidate of the US Democrats, has chosen her running mate: As US media initially reported, her choice falls on Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota.
Kamala Harris confirmed the reports a little later on social media. “I am proud to announce that I have asked Tim Walz to be my nominee. As a governor, coach, teacher, and veteran, he has stood up for working families like his. It’s great to have him on the team. Now let’s get to work,” she wrote on Twitter:
Tim Walz – surprising choice as vice-candidate
With Walz, Harris has brought an experienced campaigner to her side who could win votes in rural areas in particular. The 60-year-old had already spent twelve years in Congress before he won the governorship of frosty Minnesota in 2018. However, the ex-soldier and former teacher was a latecomer to Harris’s shortlist. Most recently, a TV appearance on MSNBC went viral in which he repeatedly described the Trump-Vance team as “weird”. The expression clearly struck a nerve. Harris herself immediately included the word in her campaign vocabulary.
The fact that Harris ultimately chose Walz is still surprising. Anyone who wants to get into the White House has to win in the “swing states” – those states that are politically on the brink and cannot be clearly assigned to a party. And hardly any state is as shaky as Pennsylvania, whose governor Josh Shapiro was considered for the vice presidential post. Even if Walz’s clear statements and his engaging manner are likely to be useful in the election campaign – his Minnesota is not a swing state.
First joint appearance in Philadelphia
“He worked with Republicans to pass infrastructure investments. He cut taxes for working families. He helped pass a paid family leave law,” he said.
The duo will be making their first joint appearance in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Immediately after that, they will embark on a five-day tour through the swing states.
The role of the US Vice President: between campaign assistant and deputy
It is said that the vice presidency is the second most powerful political office in the USA. That is formally true – but only formally. The VP is also the chairman of the Senate, whose vote is decisive in the event of a tie. The deciding factor. But in most cases, the number two is a pretty toothless tiger who presents more than he governs. Unless the number one is unavailable for whatever reason. Then the deputy takes over.
Kamala Harris’s circle of favorites was a real clique of men. There was a simple reason for this: the so-called “ticket balance”. In order to cover as broad a spectrum of voters as possible, the Democrats are relying on an opposing duo.
Note: This text has been updated.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
