Washington D.C., 6 August 2024 (TDI): Kamala Harris recently announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the White House bid. He was one of the many shortlisted Democratic figures to complement Harris as she gears up to compete against the Republican team of Donald Trump and JD Vance.
He rose to national attention for his strategy of calling Donald Trump and JD Vance “weird”, a phrase Harris has adopted when talking about her rival. However, Walz’s legacy is much more than that.
With a diverse background as a teacher, football coach, National Guardsman, and politician, Walz provides a rare combination of experience and bipartisan appeal and is poised to bridge political gaps and enhance the Democratic ticket.
Walz has a compelling resume – a public school teacher, football coach and National Guardsman before he entered politics.
His political experience, representing a Republican-leaning district in Congress and then later passing left-wing policies as governor of Minnesota, could have broad appeal at a time when US politics is so polarised.
Early Life
A native of rural Nebraska, Walz farmed and hunted in his summer times and entered the Army National Guard at 17. He would serve in the volunteer force for twenty-four years. His father, a public school administrator, encouraged him to join the military before he died from lung cancer when Walz was 19.
Armed with teaching degrees, Walz took on a one-year teaching post in China around the time of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
He later honeymooned in the country with his wife Gwen Whipple and also arranged summer educational trips to China for US students.
After returning home to Nebraska, Walz became a teacher and US football coach until his wife – another teacher at the school – drew him back to her native Minnesota. They now have two children.
As a coach at Mankato West High School, Walz helped build up a US football programme that led the school to its first state championship.
He also earned appreciation for agreeing to be the faculty adviser for the school’s gay-straight alliance at a time when homosexuality was largely frowned upon.
Political Career
Walz first ran for office in a largely agricultural, Republican-leaning district in southern Minnesota. Campaigning as a moderate focused on public service and veterans’ advocacy, he achieved an election upset.
During his twelve years in Congress, Walz’s ideology was hard to label. He supported the Affordable Care Act, co-sponsored pro-labor measures, including a bill to raise the minimum wage, and backed an unsuccessful cap-and-trade effort to reduce carbon emissions. He also found common ground with Republicans on various issues.
Elected as the 41st Governor of Minnesota in 2018, Walz’s administration has emphasized education, healthcare, climate change, and public safety. He implemented a statewide mask mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded healthcare access, and prioritized funding for education and early childhood programs. Walz has taken significant steps toward renewable energy and combating climate change.
Public Image
Known for his approachable demeanour and commitment to bipartisan cooperation, Tim Walz emphasizes community values and often draws on his background as a teacher and veteran to connect with Minnesotans.
Official Announcement
Kamala will officially introduce Walz as her running mate at a rally in Philadelphia tonight, then they will start a tour of key battleground states. Aiming to become the first female Black and South Asian President of the United States, she is already running short on time before Election Day on November 5.
Read more: U.S. Presidential Elections: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same
Harris was always expected to pick a white candidate as her running mate to balance the ticket. Fortunately, Waltz enjoys high approval ratings for the role and can counter attacks from Republicans that she is too far to the left.
On the other hand, Trump has been facing pressure from within the party to replace JD Vance as his running mate. Trump had entered the race as the favourite for the White House bid but has lost ground since Democrats replaced President Joe Biden with Kamala Harris.
Read more: Highlights of US Presidential Election Debate 2024
Kamala Ahead of Trump in Polls
Recent national head-to-head polls have shown Kamala taking the lead over Trump.
According to SurveyUSA, Harris is three points ahead of Trump with approval ratings of 48%-45%. Morning Consult has put her four points ahead, 48%-44%; while YouGov and CBS News show her one point ahead.
Experts believe that Kamala can take a decisive lead over Trump if he fails to make amends to his campaign, beginning with a new and acceptable face for the Vice President slot.
