The Scoop: The fight to define Tim Walz

Kamala Harris has named her vice president pick after a fast, whirlwind vetting process. Shortly after announcing that Tim Walz, the Democratic governor from Minnesota, would be her top lieutenant, she shared a video of her breaking the news to the camo-hat clad former teacher.

When I called @Tim_Walz this morning to ask him to join our campaign, I shared my deep level of respect for him and the work we’ve done together.

We’re going to unify this country and we’re going to win.

Let’s go get this done. pic.twitter.com/EcqZ497lyk

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 6, 2024

Politico called the recorded calls her “signature style,” nodding back to the famous video she shared of herself calling President Joe Biden to say, “We did it, Joe,” after they were named the victors in the 2020 election.

While it’s clear the call wasn’t completely candid – Walz was also filmed at his Minnesota home – it does give a nod to authenticity and intimacy that voters could share in.

And so far, it’s been a success. The hat he wore has become a campaign item, now emblazoned with the “Harris Walz 2024” logo. And that’s part of the folksy yet feisty charm the Harris campaign hopes he can bring to the ticket. The New York Times called him “a battleground strategy dressed in Carhartt.” Politico dubbed him “comfort food.”

But his political opponents are painting him as a dangerous choice. “He’ll unleash HELL ON EARTH and open our borders to the worst criminals imaginable,” the Donald Trump campaign yelled in a fundraising email. This apocalyptic vision could be a tough sell, given Walz’s dad vibes in videos with his daughter at the Minnesota State Fair or giving advice on headlight repair. Perhaps more successful attack lines center around Walz’s record, including his actions during the 2020 riots in Minneapolis and painting him as far left.

Why it matters:

For now, the battle over who Walz is largely unwritten. A YouGov survey released Tuesday night revealed that 35% of Americans found Walz to be either the best pick for Harris or a good pick, 16% thought he was a bad pick and 35% just didn’t know.

The question is, will Walz’s persona be driven more from the Harris camp – or by his opponents? In many ways, his rival J.D. Vance has had his public image driven by Democrats’ sharp use of opposition research, including Walz’s own coining of the term “weird,” leading to Vance’s status as a historically unpopular VP candidate.

For now, Walz will likely keep his role as a jovial attack dog, continuing to push the “weird” attack line even as he serves a bridge between Harris’ California roots and the more rural, purple parts of the country that the Democratic party must hold if they are to keep the White House.

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Allison Carter is editor-in-chief of PR Daily. Follow her on X or LinkedIn.