Gov. Walz remains on Kamala Harris’ VP shortlist as new ticket set to debut on Tuesday
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In the thick of vice presidential consideration, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz addressed an enthusiastic home-state audience at a Democratic fundraiser Monday night and made light of his sudden political rise.
“Life comes at you fast,” Walz said, recounting his climb from classroom teacher to six-term congressman to governor and now one of a few Democrats deemed a possible running mate to likely presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Harris, the current vice president, is set to name her choice ahead of a Tuesday afternoon rally in Philadelphia. Walz is among a handful of contenders to meet either in person or virtually with Harris in recent days, according to numerous media reports.
At a fundraiser in Minneapolis attended by hundreds of cheering backers, Walz didn’t disclose whether he expects to be named. But he spoke for about 10 minutes — a bit about himself but more about how Democrats will contrast themselves with former Republican President Donald Trump this fall.
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“He’s throwing insults and she’s smiling and saying ‘Say it to my face, say it to my face.’ Guess what? she can handle herself as well,” Walz told the crowd, referring to Harris. “We’ve got to have her back.”
He added, “We got to run this campaign as if the serious threat is there. But we have to do it every single day with a sense of joy.”
Reporters were allowed into the fundraiser for the remarks but not allowed to take photos or record for broadcast.
Walz was preceded by other Minnesota Democratic Party leaders, including Sen. Tina Smith.
She praised Harris and Walz.
“Are you ready to hear from Gov. Walz in a couple of minutes? Are you ready for just a few more dad jokes in your life?” Smith said to cheers and a smatter of laughter.
She pivoted to the change in attitude of Democrats in recent weeks about the upcoming election.
“I think all of us were sort of like trying to keep our energy up,” Smith said. “And then suddenly we were just flooded with enthusiasm and a sense of possibility of believing that not only that we could win this election, but in so doing we can keep our country moving forward in a direction we all want.”
Walz, 60, catapulted to the top tier of choices for Harris in the abbreviated vice presidential vetting process.
Harris deliberated over the pick Sunday in Washington, where Walz and other contenders reportedly sat for final interviews.
Walz abruptly canceled a trip to New Hampshire, where he was supposed to attend some Democratic Party rallies on Sunday.
Harris has rapidly become the clear favorite to lock down the presidential nomination since President Joe Biden dropped his bid for reelection. And she has gained enough support in the virtual roll call to secure the nomination she’ll formally accept at the Democratic National Convention in just over two weeks.
Her ascension opened an abbreviated but intense vetting process for her own running mate. Walz was at first seen as a longshot but, over recent days, wound up squarely in the picture.
It’s been through a mix of his message, media attention and his biography that Walz has climbed into contention. Walz put himself out there a lot in the last two weeks. He has been all over cable television and in national publications drawing contrasts between Democrats and the Republican presidential ticket led by Donald Trump.
Walz has spoken forcefully about ways government actions have improved and can improve people’s lives. He talks about his own upbringing in small-town America and his pre-politics career as a teacher. He has suggested that Democrats do more to connect with rural voters who are aligning more with Republicans of late. He does it all with humor and catchy lines that top Democrats, including Harris, have taken notice of. He — now famously — criticized Trump and his running mate JD Vance for sounding “weird” in how they cast America.
Walz is not the only contender to be Harris’ running mate. At least two others are also reported to have met with Harris over the weekend — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. Others are still being considered.
Former Attorney General Eric Holder, who has helped lead the VP search, was spotted arriving Sunday at the Naval Observatory in Washington. That’s the official residence of the vice president and where Harris was hunkered down to assess her options.
MPR News did not hear back from Walz advisers after seeking comment over the weekend, and didn’t come across any video or photographic evidence of his meeting with Harris.
We will likely know Harris’ pick sometime Monday — or Tuesday at the latest. That’s because Harris’ campaign has already set up a five-day, seven-state battleground tour with Harris and her vice presidential candidate. The first rally is Tuesday evening in Philadelphia.
Democrats also want to finalize their ticket by Tuesday in order to file for the Ohio ballot — the state with the earliest deadline, Aug. 7.
Minnesota’s ballot deadline for major party presidential candidates doesn’t come until Aug. 26.