Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, capping the Midwestern Democrat’s short but swift ascent from a relative unknown to a leading driver of the party’s attacks on Donald Trump and the MAGA agenda.

CNN —

Vice President Kamala Harris has made a decision on her running mate, with four people close to the process saying Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota is her choice.

  • @ThatOneKrazyKaptainEnglish
    4•3 months ago

    In hindsight I actually don’t think it was AS big a mistake as it seemed initially. Picking a woman, a black guy, or an Indian would have been completely undone and rendered useless against Harris. Picking anyone over the age of 60-65 would be a horrible mistake with Biden out. That doesn’t exactly leave a long short list. Vance is super young, he’s a veteran, he’s got some low level mid-western appeal and rural appeal, and he inflames the base to prevent a 2022 scenario. Not great, but probably better than what Nikki would have done especially since Vance brings in Pettuh-Thile’s bucks. People like Swanny or Nikki would have weakened the base and the gains would be erased by Harris.

    Burgum had a lot of the same strengths and especially better poker face, also ties to the tech bros, but he’s too old. I’m not sure if he was better or worse, but solid Top 3 out of the options they had. Youngkin would have been the dangerous pick electorally. He forces the Dems to fight in Virginia and has a lot of the ‘moderate swing white guy’ appeal Pence did. He’s also got Young in his first name which I’m sure could be used wonderfully in some posters. Not as much money and probably not as much of a loyalist though.

    • Coffee AddictOPMEnglish
      2•3 months ago

      I’m not sure if Vance was a true mistake yet - only time will be able to tell that for certain.

      I was just saying I don’t think there would be a way for Trump to get rid of Vance without tacitly admitting he thought picking Vance was a mistake.

      I do think Youngkin would have been a very dangerous pick for democrats, but I disagree with you in that I think Nikki Haley would have been devastating as well; I think her presence on the ticket would dispelled many criticisms of Trump. Granted, they would only be dispelled on a surface-level, but I think that would be enough for the ticket to be devastating for democrats.

      The problem for republicans is not their own base - they are notorious for falling in line, regardless of who is at the top of the ticket. The problem for republicans is capturing independents and others who believe republicans are “good for the economy” and who don’t think the worst will happen, and Nikki Haley would have surely put some of their concerns to rest.

      • @ThatOneKrazyKaptainEnglish
        1•3 months ago

        Haley was not a loyalist at all and I only think she endorsed at all because of the pressure during that brief window of time (Biden was flailing, polls were crashing, Trump got shot). Had she held out a bit til Harris joined in that never would have happened.

        Also money is a huge issue for the Trump Campaign now and even moreso with Harris rolling in the dough. There were two options with rich tech connections, Burgum and Vance.