By Emma Shortis
On Tuesday morning US time, US Vice President Kamala Harris called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to ask him to be her running mate in her campaign for the presidency.
After telling Harris he “would be honoured”, the first thing Walz observed was “the joy that you’re bringing back to the country, the enthusiasm that’s out there”.
Harris’ choice of Walz confirms and leans into this extraordinary vibe shift in American politics. In only a fortnight, the campaign has been flipped on its head.
The choice of vice-presidential running mate is often understood as relatively unimportant in the grand scheme of a presidential administration. The focus is often almost exclusively on what a vice-presidential candidate can bring to the election: which state they might help the campaign to carry.
Harris’ choice of Walz over the other major contender, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, suggests her thinking is much broader than this.
Shapiro was, in effect, the establishment candidate. He was widely considered the “safe” pick – someone who would appeal to the centre of American politics, is popular with Republicans and would bring with him the critical swing state of Pennsylvania. The grey eminence of the Democratic Party, former President Barack Obama, was behind him.
The fact that Harris did not pick Shapiro tells us a great deal about both how this campaign will be run, and the future of the Democratic Party more broadly.
Walz’ elevation is indicative of a major shift in the party – one that Harris is leading.
Instead of continuing a long-standing trend of distancing itself from its own base, particularly on the left, the Harris campaign appears to be paying a great deal of attention to it. In her apparent rejection of the establishment’s favoured candidate, she also appears to be embodying that generational power shift that Biden promised but never delivered.
Walz has widely been framed as the progressive choice. Unlike Shapiro, he has been consistent in his support for protesters who stand against the United States’ role in supporting Israel – particularly students.
Last week, a large group of progressive Democrats wrote to Harris, urging her not to pick Shapiro because his position on Israel and protests would shatter the unity that had unexpectedly come over the Democrats since President Joe Biden stood aside. Harris, distinguishing herself from the president, appears to be listening.
Taken together, all of this suggests Harris’ electoral strategy might be quite different from an established pattern. Rather than focusing mostly on appealing to a small group of (often mythical) swing voters, she is focused on uniting and mobilising the Democratic base.
This is an entirely valid electoral strategy that recognises further alienating Democratic voters in critical swing states like Michigan – where much of Biden’s immediate troubles began – might not be the most effective.
And Walz, with his dad-joke energy, still has that “white dude” appeal that most analysts believe Harris will need to keep the “blue wall” standing by winning states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Harris’ opponents – both of them white dudes – have not responded to these dramatic changes with particular effectiveness. Harris’ broad appeal seems to have taken them almost entirely by surprise.
Harris is focused, as Walz himself observed, on joy and enthusiasm, while her opponents seem to be busy being weird.
While it’s easy to see this vibe as shallow and limited to internet culture, it also, like the choice of Walz, tells us a lot about the substance of this campaign.
Like his presidential running mate, Walz has a strong record on abortion rights. In Minnesota, he led the codification of state-based abortion rights after the federal Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. Walz and Harris’ effective characterisation of their opponents as being “weird” about women and gender taps into this critical, mobilising issue in a unique way, demonstrating how this campaign is about substance just as much as it is about vibes.
More broadly, Harris and Walz are looking to the future in a way that the Democrats were simply unable to do under Biden. The Democrats are now able to offer a radically different vision of the future of the United States than that of both their opponents and their predecessors.
The fundamentals of the American electoral map remain the same. But the calculations have now changed dramatically.
Unburdened by what has been, Harris and Walz are free to lean in to the weird joy of a dramatically changed election campaign.
Emma Shortis is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University, Australia.
The Conversation arose out of deep-seated concerns for the fading quality of our public discourse and recognition of the vital role that academic experts could play in the public arena. Information has always been essential to democracy. It’s a societal good, like clean water. But many now find it difficult to put their trust in the media and experts who have spent years researching a topic. Instead, they listen to those who have the loudest voices. Those uninformed views are amplified by social media networks that reward those who spark outrage instead of insight or thoughtful discussion. The Conversation seeks to be part of the solution to this problem, to raise up the voices of true experts and to make their knowledge available to everyone. The Conversation publishes nightly at 9 p.m. on FlaglerLive.
JimboXYZ says
The DNC told Harris who was her VPOTUS. It’s easy optics to pass on a guy named Shapiro in light that the Gaza War is Israeli Jewish vs Palestinian & escalating under the crumbling regime of Biden-Harris. Walz is easily a safer bet as the loaf of white bread candidacy of extreme Leftism/Liberalism that brings white votes. Could backfire if Walz isn’t perceived like Biden for white votes ? How much input/impact did the fact that Michigan that neighbors Minnesota is highly Muslim & represented by Rashida Tlaib. That’s all Harris would need is for Tlaib to have a reason to go off for her vocal impact on picking Shapiro over anyone. Is it any wonder the Stock Market lost ground again in a selloff ? The reality of 2024, is the Democrats have to go. Doesn’t matter what end runs & stunts they pull, the underlying misery of their failed leadership & sham of Biden-Harris is hat they’re going to be held accountable & responsible for by voters. Anyone still actually believe Biden-Harris is a legitimate Administration. I get half a dozen emails by Harris-Walz everyday begging for a donation foq a donation & vote they are never getting. They need to make do with the inflation profits they have been stealing from every American over the last 3.5+ years. Trump-Vance doesn’t need to ask me for a single penny of a campaign contribution to get my vote. 4 years of our lives that we are never getting back, never recovering from. Those that voted for Biden-Harris deserve that, the rest of us knew Biden-Harris was smoke & mirrors, we don’t deserve the last 4 years of DNC election tampering & interference.
BillC says
Trump IS fake news! Now he says his Jan. 6 crowd size was bigger than MLK’s crowd size at the “I have a dream” speech of Aug. 28, 1963. Trump is always measuring himself. Weird!!!
Laurel says
What is this fantasy world that everything was perfect when Trump was in office? According to some, we lived in a utopia. Cult shit for sure.
Al says
Just let Harris talk, that’s all you need to show what a dingbat she is. This can’t be that because that is that and this is this. Just like a 60’s space cadet would talk when hi on whatever.
Another socialist that will promise you anything to get a vote.
Sherry says
OK al. . . let’s look at your candidate trump:
OK. . . As a professional recruiter. . . AGAIN, let’s compare candidate # 2: for President:
1. 78 Years Old
2. Convicted Felon (over 30 counts) for falsifying business records
3. Also found “Guilty of Sexual Assault”
4. Also found “Guilty” of Fraud in a separate case
5. Also found “Guilty” of “Defamation” of the woman he assaulted
6. Impeached TWICE in a “bipartisan” vote in Congress
7. Outstanding “Indictments” in THREE other cases in Georgia, Florida and Washington DC
I could go on and on about his lying, adultery and many other character flaws. The question is, why? why? why? isn’t candidate # 2 in jail? Such a reprobate is NOT qualified for ANY job.
Why would anyone in their right mind want a criminal like that as President?
I’ve posted this factual list of “DISQUALIFYING” attributes 3 times now, and not one trump supporter as responded to disprove that list. WHY does anyone think convicted criminal trump is better qualified than Kamala Harris? Credentialled Facts Only, Please.
Skibum says
Sherry, the only reasons supporters of their “orange Jesus” believe VP Harris is unqualified to be president, unqualified to hold the office she currently has, unqualified to previously have been a state attorney general and county district attorney, and probably shouldn’t have, in their opinions been allowed to go to school in the first place is because 1) she is a woman, and 2) OMG she is a black woman! In their twisted minds, an elderly, incoherent, incompetent, fraudulent sexual deviant, con man with 34 felony convictions is so much more qualified for ANY position of power and authority over a woman, especially a OMG black woman! In my humble opinion, t is not worth the time and effort, or even the oxygen necessary to try to hold a rational argument with a brick, but I wish you sincere luck!
Sherry says
Thanks Skibum,
It’s almost as if 30% of our fellow citizens have completely lost their minds, along with their moral compass. Beyond incomprehensible! What a complete waste of human potential!
Laurel says
Al: Please give me some direct quotes from Kamala Harris, that I can fact check, that proves Kamala Harris “a dingbat” as you say. I’ll wait.
I’m daring you!
Then when you are done (which I suspect you won’t do) I’ll give you some quotes, that you can fact check, from Trump and Vance.
Let’s go!
Dennis C Rathsam says
Put the TV on TRUMP spelled it out for 72 minutes the other day! Where were you?
Ray W. says
You watched Trump for 72 minutes?!
Deirdre says
Love this guy! It’s so refreshing that a team of intelligent, highly qualified people can be running the show in a few months. This guy keeps it real, she made a great choice.
I too would have gone with Shapiro, because although I didn’t like his stand on Gaza in particular, I would have picked anyone to beat Trump, since it would be a disaster if he won.
It made sense to pursue the 19 electoral votes from Pennsylvania, but this outcome will be much better overall since it will influence people in every state, especially young people who will have better choices for their own future now. They deserve better than two old guys with dementia that will send them to fight WWIII.
More kids will get out and vote if they know their vote makes a difference, and that hasn’t been true for a long time. Thank God Biden dropped out or we would all be doomed! Student loan forgiveness, the environment, the opportunity to make their own choices with their own bodies etc is far more important for them than who plays a better game of golf.
When will we end this ridiculous electoral system? The person that gets the most votes overall from the entire country should win any election. It should not involve needing massive amounts of money to win, gerrymandering should be outlawed, and lobbyists/big PAC money should not be influencing any elections. We need to revise the whole system, and get competent politicians in Washington, not sell outs to the highest bidder who win by cheating.
Win or lose, Trump will still say he won and get right wing extremists to threaten people and try to overthrow the government if he doesn’t get his way. I can’t take much more of the hateful, spiteful, ignorant, juvenile, criminal, narrow minded propaganda of the Trump campaign. These are not normal republicans, they are extremists, and their influence in our society is tragic, we shouldn’t be so divided as a nation. How do this many people support this guy? Look at what he does and listen to what he says, he’s a dangerous psychopath, and will destroy our democracy.
I have more hope for the future now than I have in a long time. Maybe it won’t be too late to stop a major war in the Middle East, and to end the heartless genocide in Gaza.
Sherry says
Right On Deirdre! Thank You!
Laurel says
Deirdre: Are you a medical professional who is qualified to determine dementia, and have you personally examined the two people in question?
Sherry says
How wonderful that come November we’ll all be doing the Harris Walz! Laughing and Joy will no longer be ridiculed.
We’ll have leaders who are focused on uplifting the middle class, instead of more tax breaks for their “Billionaire” friends. Focused on protecting our “Rights and Freedoms. . . our freedom of “Privacy” and the right to control our own bodies. Our rights to vote without “fake electors” and “insurrectionists” trying to take away the value of that vote. Get the government out of our bedrooms and out of our doctor’s offices! GO Harris and Walz!
Laurel says
“After graduating from Middleton High School, Vance joined the U.S. Marines Corps, where he served from 2003 to 2007 as a combat correspondent in a non-combative role, including a six month deployment working in the Public Affairs Department in Iraq.”
– Wikipedia
J.D. Vance has the gall to stand up in front of the public and condemn Tim Walz for his 24 years of service in the National Guard, lying about why Walz retired. Since when do members of the U.S. Military condemn each other?
Commander Bonespurs Trump publicly denigrated John McCain, a man from a military family, who was considered a war hero for 50 years, and served our country until he died. Trump has called veterans “suckers” and “losers.”
If your Republican candidates are so wonderful, why must they lie, and lie repeatedly?
Don’t answer if you must change the subject.
jake says
Tell me, when did Biden serve, he didn’t.
Laurel says
Jake: The subject is Vance condemning Walz, and Trump condemning McCain. Did you miss that, or is this a weak attempt to deflect? Go ahead, stick to the topic and tell us about Vance and Trump.
jake says
You brought up Former President Trump, and referred to him as Commander Bonespurs, he’s not mentioned in the article. I was just making you aware that Biden also had five deferments, for asthma. Exactly what did the current Vice Presidential Nominee Vance say that isn’t true? Stolen Valor, or misrepresenting the extent of your military service, is a serious matter.
“Since Walz first ran for Congress and then governor, he’s faced attacks around the timing of his retirement. Vance’s accusation echoes one made by two fellow high-ranking sergeants from the Minnesota Guard who publicly attacked Walz in 2018, in a paid endorsement letter to the editor of the West Central Tribune. They slammed Walz for “conveniently retiring a year before his battalion was deployed to Iraq.”
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/08/nx-s1-5068668/vance-walz-stolen-valor-military-record
Sherry says
@jake. . . Here’s what you don’t seem to get. President Biden is NOT putting down anyone’s military service. Unlike trump, and now ole jd is doing. GEEEZ!
Skibum says
On the Faux Infotainment website the other day, just for shits and giggles I replied to a commenter about the many nonsensical comments about Walz somehow being guilty of “stolen valor” because his retirement from the military was somehow tied to his unit’s activation, which is false, or that his military retirement is illegitimate because an enlisted soldier who served for four years and left military service had more actual days of work than Walz had during his entire 24 years in the National Guard Reserves. Some of these MAGA people are so delusional and brainwashed that they are incapable of making coherent arguments and instead repeat gibberish they have heard from other equally uneducated and uninformed sheeple. I was left astounded at the weird comments saying that those who only served 4 years and then left military service were somehow more entitled to a full military retirement than someone like Walz who spent 24 years and received numerous promotions before receiving his military retirement! If they could only listen to what they were actually saying, and if those ridiculous comments were being made about anyone other than a Democrat who is VP Harris’ running mate, I believe nobody in their right mind would make such outrageous and laughable statements, but here we are. And yes, all of the people who utter such drivel should remember how disrespectful their guy was toward Sen. John McCain, before and after he had passed away from brain cancer. The audacity of MAGA supporters is something that I just cannot comprehend.
Laurel says
Skibum: I know, but I believe that so many of these people do know better, deep down inside, but they do their best to filter out what would actually cause them distress. Instead, they saturate themselves with Fox Entertainment playing in the background all day long. Soothing stuff.
Lordy, Vance is so incredibly awkward while speaking. Who the hell drinks “Diet Mountain Dew?” Was he, sadly, trying to be funny? Even I cringe!
Oh, we’ve got to do so much better in this country, when people are enamored with really awkward, predictable, obvious nonsense.
Skibum says
Well, if true, Vance certainly would not be the first man to have had sex with his couch cushions, but maybe those types do have a fascination with diet Mountain Dew, who knows… YUK on both counts!
Ed P says
Laurel,
Believe it or not Mountain Dew is the soft drink of choice in the Appalachian region.
And are we down to disqualifying someone for that?
Senator J. D. Vance does not appear to as awkward as you indicate and is a solid public speaker.
Dislike for the ticket could clouding your view.
As you always post,”stick to the facts that matter”
Dennis C Rathsam says
A/WALZ, is a total fraud! He lied about his rank, lied about being in combat, went behind his CO ,s back when he quit & left his men high & dry, when it was thier time to deploy! He watched Minn burn for days before calling out the guard. He took kids to China, told them not to act too American? WHATTTTT? Have you seen the mess of that police station, the rioters burned down, still there… like a bomb hit it. No one was held responsable, no one went to jail. Now when I went to school, & my son went to school, now my grandson goes to school, there were no tampons in the boys bathrooms, Minn farmers call him TAMPON TIM cause he put tampons in the boys bathrooms. He,s a coward, lies about everything! Best part its all on tape!
Jackson says
TRUMPS 2025 PLAN:
The plan where a president can replace all career FBI agents and other justice department personnel with political appointees is chilling. It’s tantamount to requiring a loyalty oath, and the last guy who did that was the leader of mid-20th century Germany (yes, HIM). People in the DOJ loyal to the constitution over Trump is the only thing that kept him from remaining in the white house last time. Last time Hit ler demanded, loyalty from all in the party.
The concentration of power Project 2025 seeks for the president is terrifying. The Heritage Foundation, which publishes a Republican policy mandate every four years, is very influential and much of this mandate is put into practice when the Republican candidate wins. So, Project 2025 isn’t some extremist wish list. It is detailed policy and includes ways to implement it.
It consolidates too much power in the executive branch while erasing employment protections for people like scientists and engineers. Government positions that shouldn’t be political.
It also calls to outlaw abortion, IVF, euthanasia, PBS, NPR and eliminate the Department of Education.
It is chilling.
If we elect Trump again I expect it will be the death of democracy in the USA. Sounds like something that couldn’t happen here, but they thought that about their democracy in Germany too.
America can do better!🎈
NJ says
IF Harris/Walz WIN, America will become a Communist Colony of Communist China!
Laurel says
NJ: Absurd 101.
Jackson says
It’s over TRUMP, retire in prison and go ungracefully away….
Bobbi says
If harris wins, ww3 for sure! Be the end of our country as we know it! She is crazy!
Wallingford says
Apparently Taylor Swift and her tens of thousands of Swifties as well as Beyoncé and the BeyHuve, as their schedules allow, will be going out to get out the vote for Kamala Harris.
Rumor has it that Simone Biles and Gold Medal US Wrestler Amit Elor will make appearances at the Democratic Convention
Sherry says
@ nj and bobbi. . . if you want any credibility and respect at all, just come out from under your beds. Get educated, do some research on credible facts in the real world, and speak to us like a “sane and reasonable person”. Your hysterical mud slinging does not honor you, or our society. Thank You!
NJ says
Sherry, time you studied HISTORY! The English/French APPEASEMENT did NOT Stop Hitler! The Biden/Harris Appeasement Foreign Policy did NOT Stop the Russian INVASION of Ukraine, Iran Building Nuclear Weapons and Supporting ATTACKS against Israel&Allied Shipping, and Communist China’s Expansion in the South China Sea by DESTROYING Coral Reefs to Build Island Military Bases!! Sherry, you have NO credibility and NO educated person has any respect for you! STOP believing the BULLSHIT on MSNBC! Study how WWI, WWII, and Cold War started and ended! Stop being WEIRD!!!
Sherry says
nj. . . I hope you seek the counseling you obviously so desperately need. Again, what a waste of human potential!
Ray W. says
If you ever want to win an argument, NJ, you have to start out by being more honest.
China has been encroaching on its neighbors by pumping sand onto coral reefs since early in the Bush administrations. After years of repeated Chinese encroachments on Philippine territory, the Philippines took the issue to the International Criminal Court in 2013 and won in 2016. For the four years of the Trump administration, China was appeased. Since then, the Biden administration has appeased China.
Historically, China seized the Paracel Islands from Vietnam in 1974. It took a part of the Spratly Islands from Vietnam in 1988. It took Mischief Reef from the Philippines in 1994.
International appeasement has been consistently ongoing for 50 years in the South China Sea. That you have not yet discovered that says a lot about you. That you don’t blame the former president for his years of appeasement says a lot about you, too.
Russia attacked the Ukraine in 2014. Our former president appeased Russia for four years, despite the Senate having approved a treaty with the Ukraine in 1993. So, too, did Biden and Obama appease Russian aims on the Ukraine. We persuaded the Ukraine in 1993 to sell their main deterrent to Russian invasion, i.e., their nuclear stockpile, and in return we promised to aid the Ukraine if Russia ever attacked. That the Republican House appeased Russia for most of last year was shameful.
As an aside, the weak Ukrainian military stopped Russia in 2014 and again in 2021. Our aid helped in the latter effort. Have we given enough? Too much? Too little? I don’t know, but I know that you have little clue. If you did know what is really happening over there and why, you wouldn’t be posting what you post.
Iran building nuclear weapons? A coalition of nations had negotiated a weak and deficient agreement with Iran during the second Obama administration, but that country was abiding by its terms. Our former president is the one who pulled out of the agreement. If Iran is actually building nuclear weapons or if it working on enriching fissile material but are not yet at reaching the level necessary to build an actual bomb (I know they are enriching fissile material and I suspect they are near the level necessary to build an actual bomb, but I know that I shouldn’t jump to the conclusions that you do), then the first of several blames is solely on our former president.
I have studied history. I accept that I do not know every facet of every war that occurred in the last 120 years. But I do know enough to know that you know very little.
Please study a lot more history. The history you present in this post is woefully short of accurate.
While you are at it, please study the three forms of persuasion, too.
Foresee says
Trump should cheer up. After he loses the election he can always produce “The Real Housewives of Mar-A-Lago”. He’d be much better at that than as President, more at his level.
Dennis C Rathsam says
Or the assholes of Palm Coast
Sherry says
@ Foresee. . . Thanks for the chuckle!
Say now says
For everyone’s “holier than thou” thoughts, arguments, facts, fake news, etc. You all realize that for the historical fight between the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s, it wasn’t the head of the households that lost the most, it was all those unsuspecting, loyal family members below. Same for mobster families, cartels, etc. Make no mistake, if we, as a nation, can’t come together to boost and support one another no matter who is at the top, then we are doomed! Our health, mental strength, neighborly well being, road rage, etc.; will go off the charts and we will fail as a nation. Easier to destroy by any country/enemy that has had us in their sights. It can’t be the civil war again….we don’t have that clear fighting point. Lift up!!! Our children, our future, are counting on us!