9 Comments

It will be such a joy seeing these two happy smiling candidates out promoting democracy. It’s going to be a fun two months.

Expand full comment

Gosh, what a difficult choice for vice president. Tim Walz or J.D. Vance? A solid public servant for decades or a guy who has only been in elective office for 18 months, doesn't know fully who he is at 39 and has unresolved personal issues to be worked out in public. https://jimbuie.substack.com/p/vp-tim-walz-or-jd-vance

Expand full comment

But be wary of progressive leanings as Minnesota's governor and how that sits with voters in North Carolina's rural counties. Lots of economic discontent among the common folk.

Expand full comment

To wit, Walz's relative weakness among moderate voters in his own state (which Harris would have won regardless):

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/kamala-harris-tim-walz-moderate-liberal-progressive-centrist.html

Expand full comment

Choosing Shapiro would have meant younger voters, Muslims and progressives who support Palestinian statehood would abandon the Harris campaign. Walz deserves a chance.

Expand full comment

Despite Walz's thoroughly progressive record as governor? I'm not so sure. Seems like Harris has doubled down ideologically just like Trump did. There's not a moderate among the four of them.

Where will the relatively few swing voters in the six or eight swing states -- the ones who will decide the election -- feel comfortable turning? Surely Shapiro, Kelly, or Beshear would have been more appealing to them.

Expand full comment
author

Who he is more significant than what he's done. Besides, his progressive record looks pretty mainstream: Protecting access to abortion, banning conversion therapy, supporting background checks and red flag laws, paid family medical leave, providing free lunch for schools. All of those poll well across the demographics. His controversial moves are driver's licenses for undocumented workers, trans care, and voting rights for former felons are not likely to bring him down.

Expand full comment
Aug 11·edited Aug 11

Matthew, are you aware that when he was in Congress it was from US House district MN-01, a relatively conservative part of MN where Trump later won? He beat a 5- or 6-time GOP incumbent handily.

https://ballotpedia.org/Minnesota%27s_1st_Congressional_District

Also, anyone who can get an endorsement from AOC, Bernie Sanders, AND Joe Mansion is something of a unicorn, IMO.

Expand full comment

Great selection. I didn’t realize how great of a resume he has. Going to make a great partner for President Harris!!

Expand full comment