What do you need to know about Tim Walz, the Harris campaign's vice presidential running mate who made controversial remarks about Republicans?
In Democratic circles, Walz's characterization of Republicans as 'odd' has gained widespread popularity.
On Tuesday, Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President, chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, emphasizing his background and accomplishments in public service.
Walz, a 60-year-old former U.S. Army National Guard member and former teacher, has become an effective advocate for Harris in recent weeks. He grew up in a small town in Nebraska and was also a football coach and union member at a high school in Minnesota before getting into politics. Recently, he attacked former President Trump and his running mate JD Vance as "weird," a viral insult that the Harris campaign has embraced.
Minnesota's Democratic state is close to Wisconsin and Michigan, two crucial battlegrounds, and a former Republican Congress member from a rural district, Walz, has gained support from white voters while advocating for progressive policies such as free school meals and expanded paid worker leave.
The Democratic Governor's Association chairman, Harris, hopes that his inclusion on the ticket will boost the campaign's chances of winning in the upper Midwest.
In recent weeks, Walz's name has garnered significantly more national attention than in previous years, and he was one of the first Democrats to use the term "weird" to criticize Republicans in a political insult that is gaining traction in the 2024 cycle.
"On MSNBC last month, he stated that the individuals on the other side have unusual intentions, including removing books and entering exam rooms, which boils down to their desire for control. It's important to acknowledge the gravity of these proposals."
Despite facing criticism for his handling of COVID-19 and the riots in Minneapolis in 2020, Walz has continued to serve as the governor of Minnesota.
"Minnesota GOP Chairman David Hann stated in an interview with Planet Chronicle Digital that the current governor has been a disaster for the state and is the most partisan governor he can recall. According to Hann, the governor failed to take action to stop the riots in Minneapolis in 2020, fearing alienation from his progressive base who supported the riots. Harris, on the other hand, was raising funds for the rioters."
At the time of the coronavirus pandemic, Walz issued a memorandum mandating indoor masking and set up a hotline to report residents who violated COVID-19 mandates, as reported by FOX 9 Minneapolis.
He has also faced criticism for stating that socialism is a form of "neighborliness" to a gathering of Democrats.
Our progressive values should never be shied away from," he stated during a "White Dudes for Harris" call on Monday night. "Socialism for one person may be neighborliness for another.
This report was contributed to by Emma Colton of Planet Chronicle Digital, The Associated Press, and Reuters.
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