It was winter 2006 when a mutual friend introduced me to Tim Walz, then the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) candidate for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District. The scene was a Mankato State (now Minnesota State) men’s hockey game, where the friend had cajoled a Walz staffer into seating me next to her boss.
The guy was unpretentious, present and more interested in my story than his. No backdoor campaigning to help separate my church parishioners from their dollars, no canned elevator-speech warnings about the utter evil of his opponent. Mostly just a snowy night conversation that could have taken place in a neighborhood bar.
As the first period wound down, Walz shook my hand and finally took notice of the staffer who’d been nodding her head toward the exit for a good 10 minutes. As he left he shook every hand extended his way.
To be honest, my personal story isn’t really all that interesting. And I have no doubt Walz has been just as present for many other constituents over his now 18-year political career. The point is, with the quest for high office in America comes a fair amount of soul-selling. Having followed Walz’s political career from near and afar, he seems to know who he is, even when when his political opponents give into their lesser nature.
But Walz’s new status as Kamala Harris’ wingman will sorely test his capacity for campaigning with relative restraint. The longstanding Republican strategy to distract the opposition with relentless misinformation requires discipline, and picking the right battles. Walz will no doubt be scripted at points, but the deluge of lies and distortions will only increase now that GOP character assassins have an actual target. Walz will at times be on his own, and he’ll need to get and stay focused under withering assault.
In addition to supporting Walz as he resists taking Republican bait, the Harris-Walz team will have by now decided how closely Walz should adhere to the (pre-Trump) “junkyard dog” role historically assigned to vice presidential nominees.
In selecting the caustic JD Vance over comparatively saner options, GOP brass (and immediate Trump family members) clearly lobbied for a brawler this time around. But Walz doesn’t brawl. He runs on his history, record and knack for taking on the tough problems. Passion, not doomsday warnings. Experience, not juvenile word bombs.
Thirdly, Walz must show by word and deed he can assume the presidency if called upon — not by order of the 25th Amendment alone, but by his readiness in the face of unexpected tragedy. Every vice president since the amendment’s passing in 1967 has been the proverbial “one heartbeat away” from the presidency; and Republicans are predictably forecasting the end of democracy if Walz were to become chief executive by order of succession.
The case could be made Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro would’ve brought more to the ticket than Walz. Shapiro’s centrist credentials and influence in a swing state could prove to be more important than Harris and associates estimated. Yet Walz’s presence and life experiences will prove invaluable coming down the stretch. Like Harris, his moment has come.
Don Rollins is a retired Unitarian Universalist minister in Jackson, Ohio. Email donaldlrollins@gmail.com.
From The Progressive Populist, September 1, 2024
Blog | Current Issue | Back Issues | Essays | Links
About the Progressive Populist | How to Subscribe | How to Contact Us