Kamala Harris' running mate choice narrows to Tim Walz, Josh Shapiro, sources say

Unfortunately we'll probably never see the likes of him again

The bern-index

My sole problem is Bernie as the Oprah of politics. He enabled quite a few people/trolls who were pretty toxic, the worst of the Bernie Bro/Chapo Trap House dirtbag movement, Briahna Joy Gray, and David Sirota off the top of my head.

True but not because he wasn't the best candidate

I don't think he does lock down PA, his approval is solid but nothing crazy. And on top of that he has so many vulnerabilities. School vouchers and protest response, on top of old quotes being dredged out and the potential cover-up of sexual misconduct of one of his aides.

I would have looked at Kelly for his cheap points to score with low information voters (combat decorated Navy captain, astronaut), but Walz is also incredibly popular and has a good track record.

Walz is more likely to deliver Wisconsin and maybe Michigan, which are also valuable. (And like the other commenter, I also question the ability of a VP pick to reliably deliver their home state.) Wisconsin seems to really like Walz as much as we do here in Minnesota. And I think he does well in Pennsylvania, Walz has the vibes of an older and more mellow version (but not as old as he looks, school lunchroom duty will age anyone) of what we all thought Fetterman would be. Walz is from a small town, is a former national guardsman and high school football coach, and iirc used to enjoy hunting. He appeals to working class, blue collar voters in ways very few other Democrats can. He's also involved with the national party (possibly the convention), someone on TikTok knew something was up with Biden just before he dropped out because Walz flew to DC to meet with Biden. The establishment Democrats like him and so do the progressives - he's exactly who we need right now.

Also, he's the reason we're all calling Republicans ​weird.

She going choose Shapiro because DNC tells her too and fucking hurt her campaign. Goddammit for once do the right thing here Shaprio is a horrible choice that fucking none of us want. Hence why they pick him. Dumb fucking Democrats hate them.

I don't think "running mate from state X will lock down state X" deserves as much credence as political parties give it in general.

I don't think Shapiro would lock PA. I think it's pretty likely she could pick him and lose the state or not pick him and win.

Nah, I highly doubt him being the VP pick could win the state alone. I think that Waltz is a better pick as a whole, including PA.

PA is already pretty firmly blue-purple. WI is more an uncertain purple.

We definitely need any help we can get with PA. If PA goes blue that opens up a few avenues to the White House. Without it I think the only route is taking every single other swing state. Or maybe a surprise flip of a red state.

Neither state is in the bag and no one can lock down PA. Shapiro and Walz are both white males. We are in a not very good timeline no matter what, so I'll try not to worry.

I really like Kelly, too. I think there was just a lot of risk involved with pulling an incumbent Democratic Senator in a swing state that could potentially give an extra seat to the Republicans in an election year that's already difficult for the Democrats on the Senate side.

And the more I read the more fired up I get. I have liked Walz for a while but just been spending more time reading deeper into his background, experience, and policy positions. Feels like he'll really help drive the campaign and align to a lot of the wider progressive objectives.

Sometimes it's great to be wrong, this is one of those times. Great news!

I've read hand-wringing over the fact that he's Jewish and supports Israel. I'm not sure if there are other concerns.

Yeah I'm a little sad to see him go. But I know America needs someone who gives a shit.

#1. It's optics and bullshit but it's true.

Thanks for taking the time to get back to me, it's appreciated from across the pond.

As for point 1, I thought that would be a strength. I don't think anyone from backwardsville would vote Democrat anyway so his sexuality wouldn't be an issue, but I'd have thought a different viewpoint would have been appreciated little more amongst the blue electorate.

As for the second and third points, I guess that's a valid concern. I'm hoping that the pivot away from ancient politicians taking top roles will make more of an impact and allow those with a shorter track record to shine - very much like the Trudeaus, Attals, or Marins elsewhere in the world.

Thanks all the same!

Brilliant answer, thank you for your time and effort. We seem to be in the same page - he seems to be a young and idealistic politician where he hasn't really put a foot wrong yet.

Looking at the alternatives with an outsider's perspective, there just doesn't seem to be anybody on Pete's level but I guess that's a very subjective opinion.

Thanks all the same!

Doing the whole "you're downvoting me so I must be right" bit is pretty immature all on its own tbh

i really don't like the idea of ground news though, they act all unbiased an etc and then tell you exactly how biased your media is and what to think about it, AND THEN summarize it with (surely 100% trustworthy and pure) LLMs.