I’m one of those in the large group of people the article mentions not being familiar with him, so this was very helpful. He honestly sounds great. I just hope he isn’t too progressive for the moderate voters, but it sure works for me personally.
I can see a bit of your point about “too moderate” worries, but in reality this is the time for people to vote for the future.
Might as well go for broke on the bet, because if it goes wrong we’re all fucked anyways.
Either we choose to have a fucking dictatorship, or we choose a progressive leadership the next 4 years (if the scRotuM and legislative bodies aren’t included)
Personally I’m excited that someone “so old” actually seems to care about anyone younger than they are. We need that kind of person in leadership.
I get what you’re saying, but it’s just so vital that we win this one. I’d rather have a ticket that was less optimal from my personal point of view if it makes us more likely to win. Having a wonderfully progressive ticket that loses the election would be a very, very bad thing.
Agree. While I had no problems with any of the potential VP picks, I hope she made the correct choice.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/why-walz-and-not-shapiro-for-vice-president/
In two respects, however, Harris’ choice could have negative consequences. First: During her years in the Senate and her failed quest for the Democratic nomination in 2020, she adopted a number of progressive positions—endorsing the Green New Deal, opposing fracking, supporting Medicare for All (including for undocumented immigrants), and comparing ICE to the KKK—that she is now repudiating. Choosing a running mate seen as strongly progressive could make it more difficult to separate herself credibly from her past record.
Second: In the context of the Electoral College, Harris’ choice could backfire. While Walz’s Minnesota is safely Democratic, Shapiro presides over the most important swing state in the 2024 election. Although many pundits see Walz as especially appealing to rural and working-class voters, the evidence suggests otherwise. Compared to Biden’s 2020 performance in Minnesota, Walz received the same share of the vote overall (52%), and he did no better than Biden among rural and small-town voters, working-class voters, and Republican identifiers while running four points behind Biden among Independents.
By contrast, Shapiro far exceeded Biden’s 2020 baseline statewide, racking up 57% of the vote compared to Biden’s 50%. And he outpaced Biden in virtually every electoral group, exceeding the president’s share by seven points among rural and small-town voters, seven points among non-college voters, nine points among Republicans and voters leaning Republican, and five points among Independents.
Even my conservative dad (he’s a never trumper but still very much conservative… would be voting for Haley,) respects Walz.
Which is more than can be said for his last goober of an opponent who told press that line about kitty litter in schools to accommodate furries.
Yeah, I’m glad it’s him and not Shapiro. While Shapiro would pretty much secure Philadelphia, Walz can pull people of all kinds.
What’s fun is I’m not sure my dad has realized Walz is a flaming progressive. The response to Covid (fact-based, science supported, and ‘measured’,) and the response to Floyd riots (law and order, but that includes right to protest,) Cary a lot of water with the not-totally-MAGA.
(We also have a lot of inbred hicks that are totally maga, though, and the “you’re weird” resonates in that note.)
I also don’t know anything about the guy other than what I’ve heard on podcasts and so on in the last 24 hours.
That said, he does seem to have a well established ability to woo voters from further into the conservative end of the spectrum than other progressives.
For example, as @Sterile_Technique@Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world said, “Gun owner, hunter, and veteran: understands guns. Supports gun control.”
He also really cut through with the “creepy & weird” thing. Listening to the way he talks, and the way he frames things, he seems to have an ability to speak to people in a way that resonates with them.
I just hope he isn’t too progressive for the moderate voters
I think this is more of a myth than anything, that voters get turned off by a “too progressive” agenda. Bernie was immensely popular, even if he didn’t end up winning the primary. And I think he probably would have helped Hillary a lot if she had picked him as VP instead of Kaine, who didn’t help her at all.
