A BODY language expert said Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz have a rhythm that can’t be taught, but it was Shapiro who won the night.
Patti Wood, professional speaker and body language expert, exclusively told The U.S. Sun what voters can gather from the rally held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Tuesday evening.
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“They did very well together,” Wood said about the duo’s overall performance.
“They came out very close to one another and stood close as they came out…that’s not something that can be staged.
“It has to be natural. You have to feel comfortable with somebody to stay that close to them.”
The Pennsylvania rally marks Harris and Walz’s first public appearance together since she announced him as her pick for vice president on Tuesday morning.
READ MORE ON KAMALA HARRIS
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The vice president praised the 60-year-old vice presidential candidate, calling him the “kind of vice president America deserves.”
Wood said Walz’s presence was natural and welcoming.
“As she was introducing him, he seemed very natural, very comfortable. There were some actions that actually reminded me of Santa Claus,” Wood commented.
The body language expert said Walz didn’t show any signs of stress or fear but seemed to be trying to contain his extreme excitement.
“He did try to hold in his more extreme emotions…he was suppressing feeling exuberant,” she remarked.
“There was no stress; it was more a feeling of overwhelming.
“He was really comfortable standing very close to and behind her. Also, he was very humble when interacting with the crowd’s response.”
SHAPIRO SHINES
Despite the duo’s closeness, Wood said it was Shapiro who seemed to be the most presidential.
Josh Shapiro, a Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, opened up the rally celebrating Harris’ VP pick.
“It was a great speech. It was a presidential speech,” Wood said about Shapiro’s 20-minute long speech.
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.”
“In the beginning…if your eyes were closed, you could hear Obama.
“Nonverbally, it’s a hypnotic cadence that lets you ride in a speech; it takes the crowd with you.”
Shapiro was rumored to be Harris’ vice president choice but was passed on when Harris announced Walz as her running mate.
Overall, I would say [Shapiro’s] speech put it in line that he could be president one day.
Patti Wood
Some have speculated the presidential candidate’s decision not to run with the governor was due to his sympathetic comments about Israel as well as his Jewish faith, The New York Times reported.
The 51-year-old governor didn’t try to hide his faith during his speech Tuesday night.
“He said ‘I am proud of my faith,’” Wood said.
“That delivery was dramatic…he delivered it with punch, with power, and I’m sure he had tiny suppressed rage.
“That he said that so dramatically, I just went ‘woah.’”
Wood said the speech was nothing short of presidential.
“Overall, I would say that speech put it in line that he could be president one day.”
RALLY CRIES
Throughout the hour-long rally, Harris emphasized the fight for freedom and the possible dangers of Donald Trump.
“So Pennsylvania, ultimately, in this election, we each face a question,” said Harris to the crowd.
“What kind of country do we want to live in? A country of freedom, compassion, and the rule of law?
Who is Governor Tim Walz?
Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate after weeks of chaos for the Democratic Party. Here’s what to know about her pick.
Democratic politician Walz became the 41st governor of Minnesota in 2019.
The 60-year-old is a retired teacher and former non-commissioned officer in the Army National Guard.
Walz graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2001 and Chadron State College in 1989.
He has been married to his wife and fellow teacher Gwen Walz since 1994.
The pair share two children named Hope and Gus, who were conceived through IVF and fertility treatments, per the Star Tribune.
Hope graduated from a Montana college, while Gus attends public high school in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska, in 1964, and grew up in Valentine.
He is known for being punctual and graduated from Butte High School in Butte, Nebraska, in 1982.
In 1989, he taught English in China and learned to speak Mandarin.
Walz quit drinking alcohol after he got a DWI in Nebraska in 1995.
Troopers pulled him over for going 96 mph in a 55 mph zone, and a breathalyzer test found his blood alcohol concentration was .128, according to court records.
After he was arrested, he struck a plea deal to reduce the charges, which was a topic of conversation when he first ran for Congress in 2006.
When state troopers drive Walz in the state SUV as part of his governorship, he sits in the front passenger seat because he gets carsick in the back seats, per the Star Tribune.
When Walz was 19, his father died of lung cancer.
His mother, Darlene Rose, still lives in Nebraska and sometimes visits her son at the Capitol.
“Or a country of chaos, fear, and hate?”
“And here’s the beauty of our democracy – we each have the power to answer that question,” Harris continued.
“The power is with the people.”
She introduced her running mate, Tim Walz, citing his work not just as a congressman but his work for 20 years as a public school teacher and football coach.
“I think everyone here can see Tim Walz was the kind of teacher and mentor that every kid dreams of having and that every kid deserves,” she continued.
“And in 91 days … the nation will know Coach Walz by another name: Vice President of the United States.”
“When you compare his resume… some might say it’s like a match-up between the varsity team and the JV squad,” Harris said of Walz.
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