The 2024 election may be over, but the analysis of what went wrong for the Democratic ticket continues. One particular point of contention is the choice of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as Kamala Harris’ running mate. Chris Cillizza, formerly of CNN, recently took to Twitter to dissect the shortcomings of the Walz pick.
Cillizza makes it clear that while Walz may not have been the reason for Harris’ loss, he certainly didn’t help her chances. The decision to choose Walz seemed to be based on a viral moment where he called Trump and Vance “weird” on MSNBC. This moment catapulted him into the spotlight at a critical time for Harris, who had a limited window to select a VP.
Despite the initial excitement surrounding Walz, Cillizza points out that he failed to maintain momentum. His performance in the VP debate was lackluster, and his tendency to exaggerate details about his past became a national story. As the campaign progressed, Walz faded into the background, failing to make a significant impact.
In hindsight, Cillizza argues that there were better VP picks available to Harris. Walz, he concludes, was a mediocre choice driven by a fleeting viral moment. The energy surrounding the ticket post-pick was more about relief that Biden wasn’t the nominee, rather than genuine excitement for Walz.
Overall, the selection of Tim Walz as a VP candidate was a curious one, with little lasting impact on the campaign. As the dust settles on the 2024 election, it’s clear that some decisions, like the choice of running mate, will be scrutinized for years to come.
