When Kamala Harris Picked Tim Walz: A Curious Case of Political Miscalculation
Kamala Harris’s recent announcement of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the upcoming election has left many political pundits, including MSNBC’s primary political analyst Steve Kornacki, in a state of utter disbelief. The selection has caused quite a stir in the political arena and has resulted in an upheaval within MSNBC.
Kornacki’s Skepticism on Social Media
Kornacki took to social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to air his doubts about this selection. He suggested that Walz lacks the charisma and influence needed to give Harris the edge over President Trump in the polls. Let’s delve deeper into why Kornacki, renowned for his data-driven insights, holds such a pessimistic view of this choice.
Walz’s Struggles with Blue-Collar Voters
Kornacki pointed out that during Minnesota’s 2022 gubernatorial race, Walz had a hard time winning over blue-collar, working-class voters. These voters have been gradually moving away from Democrats to Republicans in pivotal swing states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Walz’s performance in these regions during the 2022 race was far from satisfactory. In fact, in counties where more than 75% of white residents do not have a four-year degree, Walz’s loss margins were strikingly similar to those of President Trump in the 2020 election.
The results of Walz's '22 GOV race in MN don't suggest he provides an obvious boost with the blue collar voters Dems have been shedding in WI/MI/PA: https://t.co/knKPzbd05E
— Steve Kornacki (@SteveKornacki) August 6, 2024
The ‘Path of Least Resistance’
Insiders speaking to Politico have described Harris’s choice of Walz as the “path of least resistance.” This implies that Walz’s selection seems more like a safe, controversy-free choice rather than a strategic move to win over key voter demographics.
Walz’s Static Support in Liberal Counties
But it’s not just the blue-collar voters where Walz falls short. Even in the more liberal counties, his support has remained unchanged since 2020. In some of these counties, he even trails a generic Republican by six to seven percent. These are areas that have consistently leaned towards Democratic candidates like Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden since 2012.
The Impact on Kamala Harris
So, what does this mean for Kamala Harris? Kornacki’s data suggests that while Walz might solidify support among college-educated white voters, he does little to improve her standing among working-class whites. This is particularly crucial as Harris has seen a surge in support among Black voters who previously showed unprecedented levels of favorability toward President Trump for a Republican candidate since the Civil Rights era.
President Trump’s Critique
Meanwhile, President Trump hasn’t wasted any time questioning Harris’s motives and strategies. During a recent trip to Atlanta, Harris was criticized for delivering her stump speech with an exaggerated Southern twang, which Trump pointed out as an obvious attempt to pander to the local electorate.
Final Thoughts
While Kamala Harris’s selection of Tim Walz as her running mate may have been intended as a safe choice, Kornacki’s analysis paints a bleak picture of its potential impact. Without significant gains among blue-collar voters, this duo might find themselves facing an uphill battle against President Trump. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Please leave your comments in the section below.
Leave a Comment