Walz delight

They say (whoever "they" is) that vice-presidential picks don't matter to election outcomes. And "they" are probably right, though I remember vividly the emergence of a certain half-term governor of Alaska who helped tank John McCain's already hobbled presidential run in 2008. (Is JD in that category? He just might be.)

Kamala Harris's pick of Tim Walz to replace her in her thankless job is eliciting squeals of delight in all the right places. Here are two you might not have seen.

Jess Piper writes from tough terrain; she works to rebuild the Democratic Party in rural Missouri. 

Walz is so perfect for the job of VP. He’s a rural progressive. He’s my people. A dirt road Democrat. He’s a liberal guy who lives among conservative folks. He’s a veteran, a teacher, a lawmaker, and a dad. Walz can speak to Republicans and can likely help pull in Independent votes.

He can show up to an event in a tee and a hat and a Carhart jacket and not look like he’s trying to be something he isn’t.

Walz is the guy who could install your gutters and snake your drain and patch a hole in your drywall. He can also sign a bill into law to feed every kid in your state breakfast and lunch for free. How can you not love the guy?

Anita Chabria writes politics for the LA Times. Does anyone still care what the failing newspaper in our second largest city thinks? They might.

This guy. He’s pure Minnesota, in the best way. He was in the National Guard for 24 years. He coached football. He was a social studies teacher who advised his high school’s first LGBTQ+ club.

Since then, he’s been a champion for LGBTQ+ rights, in a part of the country where there’s often little political capital for doing so.

He has signed laws protecting gender-affirming healthcare. He’s stopped book banning for containing gender issues. He’s protected abortion rights. He’s banned so-called conversion therapy, the controversial practice of attempting to un-gay people through religion or other methods.

Perhaps most notably, he’s the guy who started the “weird” framing of Vance — and Republicans in general. That bit of low-key genius has stuck, completely changing the dynamics of the race by putting Republicans on the defensive. A few days ago, Trump got all playground-hurt, saying, “Nobody’s ever called me weird. I’m a lot of things, but weird I’m not.”

Perhaps most endearing, he posts videos with his daughter Hope that are pure dad. They’ve got some real Fargo humor going. (Yes, I know that’s North Dakota. Close enough.)

And, as a bonus, if a Harris-Walz ticket won, Walz’s lieutenant governor, Peggy Flanagan, would become the first Native American governor in American history.

The campaign is going to be fun. Hard, not easy. But don't bet against joy and goodness.