Tim Walz's superpower

He showed why he's the right choice for the job.

Last night, Tim Walz left little doubt that Kamala Harris made the right decision in choosing him as her running mate. I’m not sure we’ve ever seen a more relatable politician on the national stage. Bill Clinton may have had the common touch, but Walz has the normal resume to boot. Anybody who has been to public school recognizes Walz, a teacher who cares deeply about his students and his community. He understands the struggles, obligations, and joys of middle-class American families because he’s lived that life.

When Walz said, “Never underestimate a public school teacher” I couldn’t help but think about my late mentor, Dean Westmoreland. Dean spent his life teaching history in Kings Mountain and served as state president of the North Carolina Association of Educators. He frequently made similar statements and would activate his network of teachers to support and promote political causes. He knew teachers as both helpers and activists deeply ingrained in their communities. Tim and Gwen Walz are those people.

Walz is the anti-elitist. At a time when progressive Ivy League institutions are under attack for creating cultures and languages foreign to many Americans living in small towns and suburbs, the Minnesota governor is giving pep talks to voters like he would high school football teams. He’s at home at a state fair, as a participant, not a politician. He’s more than just down-to-earth. He’s incredibly likable. That’s his superpower.

When he was interviewing for the position of running mate, Walz told Kamala Harris he would “run through walls” for her. He’s doing that now. Republicans have leveled their attacks on him. They’ve tried to question his veracity, attacking his military record, his coaching record, his claims about fertility treatment. He’s taken it all and not only is he still standing, he’s got the highest approval rating of anybody on either ticket.

The attacks on Walz are both politically and substantively stupid. In criticizing Walz’s military service, they’ve reminded voters that Trump is “President Bone spurs” who avoided the draft during the Vietnam War. While pointing out that Walz and his wife, Gwen, used intrauterine insemination treatment instead of in vitro fertilization, they’ve reinforced the message that Walz understands the difficulty of fertility treatments while Republicans are working to restrict them. When complaining that Walz was only defensive coordinator for the high school football team…well, I’m not quite sure what they’re saying. Most importantly, Walz is drawing enemy fire away from Harris, giving her the room to operate.

Walz’s son laid to rest any doubt about which party truly embodies family values. Gus Walz’s emotional response to watching his father on stage accept the nomination for vice-president stood in firm contrast to a Republican Party that criticized the Democrats as a party led by “childless cat ladies.” As Pete Buttigieg said, “JD Vance is one of those guys who thinks that if you don’t live the life he has in mind for you, then you don’t count.” Walz, whose family seems very traditional, has spent his life trying to make sure everybody fits in. Those are are family values, community values, Democratic values.

Political pundits and conservative activists believe that Walz was not properly vetted because the constant drone of petty criticism. In fact, Walz has heard of most of the attacks before and they’ve never stuck. His obvious decency and commitment to his family, community, and state far outweigh any embellishments he may have made during political campaigns. Indeed, most Americans assume all politicians enhance their records. Just ask Joe Biden. Bragging is not disqualifying, especially when your opponent is a habitual liar and conman.

Walz brings broad appeal to the Democratic ticket because his life feels so familiar to so many Americans. He went to work, raised a family, served his country and community, and never got rich. He’s a guy who most people recognize and appreciate. That’s the teflon that protects Tim Walz and that’s the superpower that he brings to this campaign. Clearly, he is the right choice for the job.