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‘Kamala Harris, thank you for bringing back the joy,’ says Democratic VP nominee Tim Walz
Indian Americans on both sides of the aisle approved of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’ running mate.
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, and her running mate Tim Walz, are shown at an Aug. 6 campaign rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. / YoutubeScreenGrab
Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appeared together Aug. 6 evening at a lively rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Harris characterized her newly-picked running mate as a high school teacher who “used football to teach his students life lessons. He saw the potential in kids who didn’t see it in themselves.”
“He’s the kind of teacher and mentor that every kid dreams of having and deserves. He’s the kind of vice president America deserves,” said Harris, whose Presidential campaign raised $20 million in the 12 hours after she announced Walz as her running mate.
Before she announced her running mate, Harris was polling 3 percentage points higher than Trump, a leap from 2 weeks earlier when she announced her candidacy, after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek a second term.
Both Harris and Walz heaped kudos on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who was on the shortlist for the nomination.
Walz, a progressive who has fought to raise the minimum wage, expand the Affordable Care Act, and is proudly pro-labor, said in his remarks onstage: “Trump has never sat at a kitchen table like the one I grew up at, wondering how we were going to pay the bills. He sat at his country club in Mar-a-Lago wondering how he could cut taxes for his rich friends.”
Walz has already earned the moniker: “America’s dad” for his folksy, homespun demeanor on the campaign trail.
Long-time Republican political activist Dr. Sampat Shivangi told New India Abroad: “I like Tim Walz. He’s a great candidate who fills in a lot of the plus points Kamala Harris lacks, and brings some wisdom and good sense to the Democratic party.”
“Harris did the right thing by choosing Walz,” said Shivangi, who served as a delegate from Mississippi to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin last month. He, nonetheless, believed that Republican Presidential contender Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance would win the Nov. 5 election, albeit in a tight race.
Rajiv Bhateja, co-founder of They See Blue, which promotes Democratic candidates, told New India Abroad that Walz was his 1st choice. He noted that Walz was elected to Congress from a very right-leaning district, and has a distinguished military career. “He’s made a lot of progress in Minnesota. I really respect what he stands for, and what he's done,” said Bhateja, noting that Walz was also the least controversial of those on Harris’ shortlist.
Surajit Bose, who founded the online group “Desis for Pete (Buttigieg)” during the 2020 election cycle, told New India Abroad: “I was certainly excited about Pete being on the shortlist, but I didn’t think he would actually be picked. There was a really good pool of candidates to choose from, and it was important to have someone who had been tested, at least in a statewide race.”
Buttigieg, the first openly gay man to run for President, gained significant attention. But the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana ultimately dropped out on March 1, 2020. Buttigieg now serves as the Transportation Secretary in President Joe Biden’s administration and is expected to get a key cabinet post in the Harris administration.
Walz is very much in the Biden mold, said Bose, noting that he is pragmatic, and has a history of reaching across the aisle. “He’s focused on the bread and butter issues, very much in keeping with Harris’ values,” he said.
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