After weeks of speculation, Kamala Harris has chosen her running mate in Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
With names like Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro being seen as finalists to be Harris's running mate, in the end, Walz, who has served as Minnesota's Governor since 2019 after a 12-year tenure in the U.S. House of Representative representing Minnesota's first district, has emerged as Harris's pick to be her running mate.
Former Missouri State Senator Jeff Smith joined Megan Lynch and Tom Ackerman on Total Information A.M. Tuesday to discuss Walz and in his eyes, Walz seems like 'a pretty good solid pick'
"Gov. Walz broke late in the last week and a half or so and had some really strong media appearances and seems to be the antidote for what Kamala Harris thought might give her a challenge in the rust belt in being the most normal possible," said Smith on Total Information A.M. "I think having a heartland guy who talks about going to Menards, a former high school teacher and football coach, I think that kind of appeal to her."
Smith believes what helped Walz edge the likes of Josh Shapiro was that he thinks Harris didn't want to risk any wing of the Democratic Party having any other feeling than excited with the Vice Presidential nominee.
"All the wings of the party seemed like they could be happy with him, which wasn't necessarily the case for the other people who were finalists," said Smith.
"I would say there was a little bit of dissension that bubbled up among some processive in the party that for one reason or another weren't huge fans of Shapiro, who was very much as a Centrist governor."