As Kamala Harris neared her final decision on who would be her running mate, Tim Walz made a startling admission: He’d never used a teleprompter before.
The 60-year-old Minnesota governor told Harris’ vetting team he would need to be taught how to use a teleprompter if selected, but the admission did not prevent him from “cruising” through the final interview process, sources said. CNN.
The outlet reported that Walz endeared himself to Harris and her team by speaking openly about his vulnerabilities, which also included being a “poor debater” and having little national name recognition.
However, sources said that by the time the selection process was over, “everyone loved” Walz, helping him beat out the final two names on Harris’s list: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.
Tim Walz reportedly told Kamala Harris’s research team that he would need to be taught how to use a teleprompter before becoming her running mate.
The Minnesota governor is said to have convinced the vice president with his pragmatic approach to be on her list, including rejecting the idea that he himself would one day run for president.
To earn a spot on Harris’ ticket, Walz survived a rigorous process by her research team to assess his compatibility on the campaign trail and his potential permanence in the White House.
During the final stages, Walz reportedly outshone the rest by proving he would be a “team player.”
Sources familiar with Walz’s meeting with Harris’ team said that when asked how he viewed his role as vice president, he said he would carry out his duties as Harris wanted.
The Minnesota governor further impressed with his apparent intention not to upstage Harris, saying he would not need to be the last person in the room before she made a decision — unless she wanted him to be.
One member of the investigative team, Cedric Richmond, a former Louisiana congressman and Biden adviser, told CNN that it was Walz’s pragmatic approach that sealed the deal.
“He had a very clear understanding that he needed to be a partner, but support the president, go out and connect with the United States and be that governing partner,” he said.
“It is not the easiest position, but it is a very important position.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was reportedly on the final list but passed on Harris after having “too many questions” about her role as vice president.
Arizona senator and former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly was also reportedly on Harris’s final list of candidates, but Walz “passed” his interview to seal his spot on the list.
Walz also dismissed any claims that she had her own presidential ambitions in the future, which would possibly give her an edge over Shapiro, who pundits have speculated has plans to run for the White House in the future.
Harris reportedly recalled this after finishing her final interviews, as she did not expect Walz to be so open about not seeking the presidency.
Richmond said: “That showed his willingness to say, ‘Look, I’m not worried about my image or my approval rating or what the next chapter of my life holds. I’m going to stay in this moment, I’m going to be your vice president, I’m going to walk through walls, I’m going to fight for the American people and I’m going to demonstrate our values.'”
“It’s a strong and compelling argument,” he added.
Another source concluded that Walz’s final interview was a success.
The same cannot be said for Shapiro, who reportedly struggled to maintain the same tone as he asked “a lot of questions” about what his role as vice president would entail.
A source familiar with Shapiro’s final meeting with Harris said he seemed overly ambitious, creating a “striking contrast” between him and Walz.
Shapiro’s support for Israel was also seen as a potential sticking point, with one source close to the matter saying Harris was keen to avoid “reopening that scab” after protests over civilian casualties in Gaza earlier this year.
Although Harris experienced a surge in the polls after announcing her presidential campaign just weeks ago, pundits were concerned that she might struggle to muster a large enough voter base to defeat Donald Trump in November.
A source familiar with the matter said that while Walz does not hail from a key swing state, his down-home, Midwestern demeanor could help where Harris lags.
“He hunts, he fishes, you want to have a beer with him,” the source, who was not identified, told CNN.
According to insiders, it was Walz’s folksy, Midwestern demeanor that helped endear him to Harris’s vice presidential research team.
“He’ll be playing Michigan, Wisconsin, Western Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina,” the source added, with staffers joking that he’ll sign a “Blue Walz,” a play on the “blue wall” that carried Joe Biden to the White House in 2020.
“(Walz) sounds and looks like many of the voters we lost to Trump,” another source added.
Those familiar with the details of Harris’ vetting process said Walz ultimately seemed like a “happy warrior” type who would bring “joy and excitement” to the campaign.
CNN reported that while former Attorney General Eric Holder was a prominent member of the investigative team, three others worked behind the scenes to find the right running mate.
Richmond was there, along with former Boston Mayor and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, each close to Harris.
They reportedly first narrowed the list down to nine candidates, before including six in video calls with the committee.
After these interviews, Walz and Shapiro emerged as the clear front-runners, with Kelly taking the final podium as Harris’ third choice.
But to help Walz outpace his competitors, he assembled several Democratic Party bigwigs to push 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 social media success, Harris reportedly found herself “liking the way (Walz) operates.”