Kamala Harris, who appears to be floundering in her vice presidential role, made a decision that further demonstrates her political naivety. She selected Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz, as her running mate. Quite a predictable choice from a politician demonstrating little ingenuity. The decision highlights Harris’ desperate attempt to maintain control over a discordant party as the election day approaches fiercely.
In an apparent PR move, Harris praised Walz on social media, selling him as a benefit to working families due to his past as a governor, coach, teacher, and veteran. Yet, it seems like another desperate attempt to curry favor with the voters who have seen little benefit from such political affiliations in the past.
It’s no secret that the Democratic nominee, with her choice of running mate, is attempting to appease the Midwestern voters. Walz’s support for labor unions and his rather extravagant Democratic agenda, which recklessly embraces large-scale protections for abortion rights and uncontrolled aid to families, underline this point. However, these actions seem more self-serving, aimed at preserving political relevancy rather than truly benefiting the general public.
Notably, this selection made by Harris is viewed by some as a strategic move to counter the Republicans’ powerful rhetoric with a lighter touch. It appears more like she’s running from making bold decisions, considering that Republicans have been rallying behind former President Donald Trump amidst the political turmoil.
Sadly, Biden’s abrupt departure from his re-election campaign cast a rather large shadow over Harris’ ill-timed announcement. It’s almost as if she is trying to distract from the evident lack of leadership and unity in the Democratic party, casting Walz into the fray during one of the most turbulent periods in modern American politics.
As if blatant regional pandering wasn’t obvious enough, Harris evidently hopes that Walz can help improve her campaign’s standing across the upper Midwest, using the region as a potential buffer against sizeable Republican gains. But can Walz salvage the hope for Democrats in these states, especially with the haunting memories of Trump’s previous victories in Michigan and Wisconsin still very much alive?
Let’s be clear, Walz is far from a well-known figure. An ABC News/Ipsos survey taken before his selection but after Harris’ vetting process began found that almost 90% of U.S. adults were unfamiliar with him. One has to wonder how a figure so relatively obscure can be a crucial deciding factor in a presidential race of this magnitude.
His selection has been praised by a bizarre mix of political figures ranging from progressive firebrand, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to the independent Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a moderate who defected from the Democratic Party earlier this year. This rather peculiar blend of supporters raises questions about Walz’s ability to garner a solid and consistent voter base.
Featuring an uncomfortably packed team of lawyers and political operatives, led by former Attorney General Eric Holder, Harris spent Monday in deep contemplation before making her decision. Sources close to Harris report she finalized her decision on Tuesday morning, raising questions about the rashness of such a decision, coming so soon after her introspective Monday.
Although Walz had a modest upbringing in a small town in Nebraska and had some years of experience in education and politics, he lacked charisma and a broad public presence. And despite having served in the Army National Guard, Walz retired without completing full training – a fact which somehow downplays the touted high enlisted rank to his name.
Walz ran for governor in 2018 with a clichéd ‘One Minnesota’ catchphrase and managed to win by a fairly reasonable margin. His win does raise questions as to the discernment of the voters who put their trust in Walz, considering the controversial legislative decisions that followed.
As governor, Walz and his Democratic allies enacted drastic protections for abortion rights, eliminating almost all restrictions Republicans had previously put in place. Although they might hail this as a success, it’s deeply concerning to a lot of conservatives and moderates who view these actions as trampling on the rights of the unborn.
All the while, Republicans have vocally criticized Walz and his fellow Democrats. They’ve argued that the surplus could have been better used on tax relief for all, rather than on satisfying the transient demands of the Democrats’ activist base. Furthermore, they illustrate Walz’s oversight failures of pandemic programs that cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. A hefty price for such gross negligence.
Harris’ Desperate Grasp at Popularity with Walz Selection appeared first on Real News Now.
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