DEMOCRATIC presidential nominee Kamala Harris chose the safest option when picking running mate Tim Walz, a former Obama aide had told The U.S. Sun.
The announcement of Walz as Harris’ VP pick comes just two days after the finalists met with her in Washington DC.
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Reacting to the news, Brett Bruen, the director of global engagement during Barack Obama’s administration, revealed why Harris chose to take the safe route.
“It’s a safe choice that may well prove to be strategic,” Brett told The U.S. Sun.
“He offers a clear contrast with JD Vance, bringing the Midwestern roots without the radicalism.
“His appeal may well stretch over Wisconsin, Michigan, and even Pennsylvania.
Read more on Harris’ VP pick
“He also proven to deliver some powerful political punches without the Washington wordiness.
“You want the candidate for vice president to be able to be a strategic slugger, and he certainly brings that strength.”
When asked where popular contender Josh Shapiro fell short, Bruen insisted that safety was the key factor.
“The goal was clearly to not risk a division or dilution of support,” he said.
“She went with the safest option, which I think speaks to how she will likely govern.”
Speaking on how the decision will impact the 2024 election results, Bruen believes it’s good news for Harris HQ.
“It won’t detract from her momentum, and her major moment is at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago,” he said.
“Barring any bizarre development and those can’t be ruled out – she will have the political winds at her back and I expect it to be enough to win in November.”
This comes as…
Walz, the current governor of Minnesota, beat out several big names to win the VP pick race.
Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly were reportedly in DC with Walz on Sunday for final interviews.
What Brett Bruen has told The U.S. Sun:
Brett Bruen was the director of global engagement in the Obama White House from 2013 to 2015.
The choice of Governor Tim Waltz of Minnesota as Kamala Harris’ running mate: a surprise to some. For others, I think a safe bet.
He certainly will help not only in his home state of Minnesota but also over in Wisconsin, maybe in places like Pennsylvania.
I know Josh Shapiro was seen by many as a more dynamic and next-generation leader up and coming. But at this stage, Kamala Harris really needs to place a safe bet. She’s got the momentum. She doesn’t necessarily need more dynamism. What she needs, I think, is to win over a lot of those independent, a lot of those disaffected Nikki Haley voters. And Tim Walz will probably help her do that with a number of folks.
But what’s even more important than today is what happens the week of August 19th.
We head to Chicago to the Democratic National Convention, and that is where you will have the true national spotlight, both on Governor Walz, as well as the current president, Joe Biden, the former president, Barack Obama, and a whole host of Democratic luminaries.
But then Kamala Harris will play center stage, will play to an audience unlike she has had in her political career. And despite being vice president for three and a half years, this is really her coming out. And she does have the momentum, she’s going to focus in on introducing, and in some cases reintroducing herself to America.
And meanwhile, Donald Trump and JD Vance continue to struggle in trying to land some of these political punches, and they are going to struggle more for getting oxygen as the next couple of weeks will be dominated both by the selection of Governor Walz as Kamala Harris’ running mate as well as the bounce from the convention, which, quite frankly, Trump and Vance didn’t see.
I think we’re headed towards smooth sailing into September and then on into the elections. And yet this has been such an unprecedented, such an upheaval-plagued election. We may yet see more, but for the time being, Kamala Harris is playing it safe.
She’s got a running mate. She’s got a governing partner, and I think most Democrats will walk away from this satisfied enough and certainly continue to be energized by Harris’ candidacy.
Walz has been the governor of Minnesota since 2019 after serving 12 years as a representative for a rural district of the state in the US House.
He spent his early career in the National Guard before becoming a high school teacher and football coach, leading the team to its first state championship.
Reacting to the news, Walz called the decision “the honor of a lifetime” and declared himself “all in.”
“It reminds me a bit of the first day of school,” he continued.
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Two hours after the news broke, former President Barack Obama shared a statement showing his support for Walz.
“By selecting Tim Walz to be her vice president from a pool of outstanding Democrats, Kamala Harris has chosen an ideal partner – and made it clear exactly what she stands for.”
President Joe Biden quickly followed suit, praising Harris for her “great decision.”
“The Harris-Walz ticket will be a powerful voice for working people and America’s great middle class,” he said.
“They will be the strongest defenders of our personal freedoms and our democracy. And they will ensure that America continues to lead the world and play its role as the indispensable nation.”
However, Republicans weren’t as enthusiastic, with the Trump family appearing to mock the choice.
“Yikes!!!” Donald Trump Jr wrote on X. While his dad followed up on Truth Social with a simple, “Thank you!”
The Trump campaign, however, issued much more damning statements, calling Walz “dangerously liberal” and claiming he would “unleash HELL ON EARTH.”
Trump running mate JD Vance said that he left Walz a voicemail following the news.
“I just said look, congratulations, look forward to a robust conversation and enjoy the ride and maybe he’ll call me back, maybe he won’t,” he told reporters aboard Trump Force One.
Kamala Harris’ full statement on her VP pick
Kamala Harris confirmed her running mate in a text blast to supporters, then shared a lengthy post on Instagram explaining her decision.
“I am proud to announce that I’ve asked @walzforgovernor to be my running mate,” Harris wrote in the Instagram post.
“One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle-class families run deep. It’s personal.
“He grew up in a small town in Nebraska, spending summers working on his family’s farm. His father died of cancer when he was 19, and his family relied on Social Security survivor benefit checks to make ends meet. At 17, he enlisted in the National Guard, serving for 24 years. He used his GI Bill benefits to go to college, and become a teacher. He served as both the football coach and the advisor of the Gay-Straight Alliance.
“I share this background both because it’s impressive in its own right, and because you see in no uncertain terms how it informs his record. He worked with Republicans to pass infrastructure investments. He cut taxes for working families. He passed a law to provide paid family and medical leave to Minnesotan families.
“He made Minnesota the first state in the country to pass a law providing constitutional abortion protections after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and as an avid hunter, he passed a bill requiring universal background checks for gun purchases.
“But what impressed me most about Tim is his deep commitment to his family: Gwen, Gus, and Hope. Doug and I look forward to working with him and Gwen to build an administration that reflects our shared values.
“Whether you are a supporter, a volunteer, a donor, a member of our staff, or your name is on the ticket: you are part of the people-powered campaign that is going to defeat Donald Trump.
“We are going to build a great partnership. We are going to build a great team. We are going to win this election.
“So let’s get to work. Join our campaign at the link in my bio.”
