Kamala Harris Chooses Tim Walz as Running Mate
Vice President Kamala Harris has made a bold choice in selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate. As the Democratic ticket prepares for the upcoming 2024 election, this decision adds a prominent Midwestern leader to the team, potentially shoring up support in key northern battleground states.
Who is Tim Walz?
Walz, though not widely known on the national stage, brings a wealth of experience to the ticket. A Nebraska native, Walz enlisted in the National Guard at 17 and served for over two decades, gaining valuable experience both domestically and abroad. His post-military career saw him transition into education, where he taught social studies and coached football in Mankato, Minnesota. His foray into politics began in 2006 when he won a congressional seat representing Minnesota's 1st District, a largely rural and agricultural area. After 12 years in Congress, he successfully ran for governor in 2018.
Despite his extensive background, a recent NPR/PBS/Marist poll showed that 71% of Americans either hadn't heard of Walz or didn't have an opinion of him. Among those who did, 17% viewed him favorably, while 12% had a negative opinion. A Tellwut survey of its members revealed similar findings, with 56% of respondents saying they hadn't heard of Walz before Harris's announcement. Among those familiar with him, 21% viewed him favorably, 14% negatively, and 10% were neutral.
Tellwut member mabearsky says "I hadn't heard of Walz until a couple of weeks ago when I heard him speak on MSNBC. He was the one who originally said T**** and Vance were weird. I had a good feeling about him when I heard him speak, and he has recently proven to live up to my expectations. I think Kamala made a great choice."
Does Walz Have the Experience?
Given Walz's background, many are questioning whether he has the experience necessary to serve as vice president. In a Tellwut survey, 53% of respondents believed he does, while 23% disagreed, and 24% were undecided. His long history of public service and leadership in Minnesota will undoubtedly be central to how he is perceived on the national stage.
When asked who would make a better vice president between Walz and Republican JD Vance, 50% of Tellwut respondents favored Walz, while 27% preferred Vance. Another 15% believed neither would be ideal, and 8% viewed both candidates equally.
Tellwut member keepitreal doesn't think Walz is the best choice, stating "Tim Walz is a patriot who served our country in the Army National Guard for 24 years. His policies though are every bit as radical far left as COUPmala Harris. She had the opportunity to choose the more moderate Democrat Josh Sharpiro as her VP but it looks like the Hamas wing of the Democratic Party convinced her to choose Walz instead. Walz is plenty qualified for this position but I strongly disagree with the policies of the Harris/Walz ticket so I'll be casting my vote for Donald Trump instead." but scouthoward disagrees, commenting "Tim Walz is a great American who has led an exemplary life of public service as a public school teacher, coach, National Guardsman, Congressman and Governor. JD Vance has the thinnest resume of any modern VP selection since Sarah Palin. Harris/Walz, when We Vote, We Win!"
The Upcoming Debates
With the election season heating up, all eyes are on the upcoming debates. ABC News recently announced that it will host the first debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on September 10. Both candidates have expressed their willingness to participate in multiple debates leading up to the November election. According to a Tellwut poll, 49% of respondents plan to watch the first debate, while 27% will not, and 24% are undecided.
Additionally, CBS is expected to host a debate between the vice-presidential nominees, JD Vance and Tim Walz. Discussions are also underway with NBC News for a potential debate later in the fall. When asked about their interest in watching the Vance-Walz debate, 43% of Tellwut respondents said they would tune in, 31% said they would not, and 26% were undecided.
Solewolf comments "Harris and Walz will wipe the floor with those lunatics" but blesdbyfth thinks otherwise, commenting "Trump CAN debate. He's a successful business man who has a lifetime of negotiations! Kaklma can't speak worth a hoot."
The Stakes of the 2024 Election
As the 2024 election approaches, a sense of urgency is palpable across the political spectrum. A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed that a majority of Americans—Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike—view this election as "very important" or "extremely important" to the future of democracy. In a Tellwut survey, 61% of respondents echoed this sentiment, calling the election "extremely important," while 21% considered it "very important," and 8% labeled it "important."
The deep divide between supporters of Trump and Biden continues to drive voter sentiment. Many Democrats see Trump as a threat to democracy due to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and his association with the January 6 Capitol riots. Conversely, many Trump supporters believe that Biden is the real threat to democracy. When asked who poses a greater threat to democracy, 53% of Tellwut respondents pointed to Trump, while 34% blamed Biden.
Patricia Seliga-Williams, a 53-year-old independent from LaVale, Maryland, perhaps summed up the feelings of many when she stated, "I believe that this is the most important election of my lifetime." Her view is shared by 67% of Tellwut respondents, who agree that this election is the most critical of their lives. Only 12% disagreed, and 20% were undecided.
With such high stakes, voter turnout will be crucial. In a final Tellwut poll, 84% of respondents confirmed their intention to vote this November, underscoring the importance of each vote in this pivotal election. Tellwuter BradFoster comments how important voting is, saying "Everytime I see a poll where someone says they are not going to vote, I always think it would be nice if we could have a list of non-voters, so that every time after the election they complain about something, their comments are automatically deleted. If you can't be bothered to vote, don't really care what you think of the results."
As the campaigns ramp up and the debates begin, the nation will be watching closely to see how Harris and Walz, along with their Republican counterparts, make their case to the American people.