On Tuesday, CNN attempted to ease viewers’ concerns when it appeared that Vice President Kamala Harris made a misstep in her first significant decision by choosing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) as her running mate. This choice surprised political observers. The front-runner had been Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D), a moderate from a swing state, with expectations set when the Harris campaign scheduled her running mate’s rollout for Tuesday evening in Philadelphia.
However, the party’s left-wing, anti-Israel base made it clear that they rejected Shapiro, not only due to his pro-Israel views but also because he is Jewish. This led some Democrats to publicly speak out against antisemitism within their own party. Walz, who has become more radical throughout his career, represents a reliably Democratic state and holds policies on abortion, transgenderism, energy, and policing that align with these values.
This caused unease among some Democrats, prompting reporters to inquire why Shapiro was overlooked and whether Harris had caved to antisemitism within the party. CNN and its guests took a more optimistic stance, arguing that Walz would at least not harm the ticket. Left-leaning political scientist Larry Sabato told Jim Acosta on CNN: “The old rule, which you’ve heard many times, because you’re older than you look, is that you do no harm with the vice presidential nomination, do no harm. I’m sorry, despite what this one, and that one, and the other one are saying, I don’t think he does any serious harm at all, and is a plus in other ways.” Sabato went on to say that Walz could potentially be beneficial if he focused his campaign efforts on swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan.
Sabato also described Walz as “an interesting guy” with a solid resume and a good sense of humor. He reminded viewers that vice presidential candidates typically fade into the background relatively quickly. Veteran political reporter Jeff Zeleny suggested that Walz was chosen so he wouldn’t overshadow Harris at the top of the ticket, stating: “He’s a governing partner … and his ambition was not seen to get in the way of [Harris’s] plans.” He added: “At the end of the day, this should not be about him — this is about the top of the ticket.