Minnesota Governor Tim Walz spoke candidly this week at the Harvard Kennedy School, revealing that Kamala Harris selected him as her vice-presidential running mate in 2024 because of his ability to connect with a specific demographic of white male voters.
“I would argue,” Walz told attendees, “because we did a lot of amazing progressive things in Minnesota that improved people’s lives, but I also was on the ticket, quite honestly, you know, because I could code talk to white guys watching football fixing their truck, doing that, that I could put them at ease.”
He continued, “I was the permission structure,” adding, “to say, Look, you can do this and vote for this.”
Throughout the campaign season, Walz participated in numerous publicity-driven events designed to boost his relatability—activities like pheasant hunting, showing up at football games, and doing auto repairs were part of that effort.
His campaign also featured several unconventional advertisements. One memorable spot parodied an old Coors Light commercial by changing the line “I love twins” to “I love Tim.” Another ad showcased rugged men lifting weights, sitting on tailgates, or donning cowboy hats while voicing their support for women’s rights.
Speaking at the Harvard event, Walz argued that the Democratic Party doesn’t necessarily need to overhaul its messaging. Instead, he said, the party should “recognize that people take in the information differently” and focus on “how they’re going to get it.”
{Matzav.com}