As Kamala Harris neared her final decision over who would be her running mate, Tim Walz made a startling admission – he had never used a teleprompter before.
The Minnesota Governor, 60, told Harris’ vetting team that he would need to be taught how to use a teleprompter if selected, but the confession didn’t stop him ‘acing’ the final interview process, sources told CNN.
The outlet reported that Walz endeared himself to Harris and her team by being open about his vulnerabilities, which also included being a ‘bad debater’ and having little national name recognition.
However, sources said by the time the vetting process was over, ‘everyone loved’ Walz, helping him beat the last two names on Harris’ shortlist – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.
Tim Walz reportedly confessed to Kamala Harris’ vetting team that he would need to be taught to use a teleprompter before becoming her running mate
The Minnesota Governor was said to have won over the Vice-President with his pragmatic approach to being on her ticket, including rejecting the notion he would run for president himself one day
To win a place on Harris’ ticket, Walz survived a rigorous process from her vetting team to gauge his compatibility on the campaign trail and possible time in the White House.
During the final stages, Walz reportedly outshone the rest by demonstrating that he would be a ‘team player.’
Sources familiar with Walz’s meeting with Harris’ team said that when asked how he saw his role as Vice-President, he said he would carry out his duties however Harris wanted him to.
The Minnesota Governor further impressed with his apparent intention to not overshadow Harris, and said he wouldn’t need to be the final person in the room before she made a decision – unless she wanted him to be.
One of the members of the vetting team, Cedric Richmond, a former Louisiana congressman and Biden advisor, told CNN that it was Walz’s pragmatic approach that sealed the deal.
‘He had a very clear understanding that it was to be a partner, but to support the president, go out and connect with America and be that governing partner,’ he said.
‘It’s not the easiest of positions, but it’s a very important position.’
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was reportedly in the final shortlist, but turned off Harris after having ‘too many questions’ over his role as VP
Arizona Senator and former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly was also reportedly on Harris’ final shortlist, but Walz ‘aced’ his interview to seal his spot on the ticket
Walz also dismissed any claim that he had his own presidential ambitions in the future, possibly giving him a leg-up over Shapiro who pundits have speculated has plans to run for the White House down the line.
This reportedly stuck with Harris after she was done with her final interviews, as she did not expect Walz to be so open about not seeking the presidency himself.
Richmond said: ‘That showed his willingness to say, ‘Look I’m not concerned about my image or my approval rating or what’s next for me in the next chapter of life. I’m going to stay in this moment, be your vice president, run through walls, fight for the American people and demonstrate our values.’
‘That’s a strong and compelling argument,’ he added.
Another source concluded that Walz’s final interview was a ‘home run.’
The same could not be said of Shapiro, who reportedly struggled to strike the same tone as he asked ‘a lot of questions’ about what his role as VP would entail.
A source familiar with Shapiro’s final meeting with Harris said he came off as overly ambitious, which made for a ‘striking contrast’ between himself and Walz.
Shapiro’s support for Israel was also seen as a potential sticking point, with one insider saying Harris was keen to avoid ripping ‘that scab back open’ after protests over civilian casualties in Gaza earlier in the year.
Although Harris saw a surge in the polls after she announced her presidential campaign just weeks ago, experts were concerned that she may struggle to bring together a wide enough voter base to defeat Donald Trump in November.
An insider said that although Walz is not from a swing state, his folksy, midwestern demeanor may help where Harris falls short.
‘He hunts, he fishes, you want to have a beer with him,’ the source, who was not named, told CNN.
It was Walz’s folky, midwestern demeanor that helped endear him to Harris’ VP vetting team, according to insiders
‘He will play in Michigan, Wisconsin, Western Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina’, the source added, with staffers reportedly joking that he will lock up a ‘Blue Walz’ – a pun on the ‘Blue Wall’ that led Joe Biden to win the White House in 2020.
‘(Walz) talks and looks like a lot of the voters we’ve lost to Trump,’ added another insider.
Those who knew the ins-and-outs of Harris’ vetting process said that Walz ultimately came off as a ‘happy warrior’ type, who would bring ‘joy and excitement’ to the campaign trail.
CNN reported that although former Attorney General Eric Holder was a prominent member of the vetting team, three others worked behind-the-scenes to find the right running mate.
This was Richmond, along with former Boston mayor and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, each of whom are close to Harris.
They reportedly whittled the shortlist down to nine candidates at first, before pushing six into video calls with the committee.
After these interviews, Walz and Shapiro emerged as the clear favorites, with Kelly on the final podium as a third option for Harris.
But for Walz to edge out his competitors, he gathered a number of Democratic Party bigwigs to propel him across the finish line – with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi leading the way.
Former President Barack Obama also offered a glowing review of Walz, and after his recent success on social media, Harris reportedly found herself ‘liking the way (Walz) operates.’
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