Kamala Harris is bold. She’s historic. She’s cool and fun, so the media says. And she needs a down-to-earth, all-American Midwestern dad to keep her centered. Sigh, this is really what they’re running with: are you ready to hear how “folksy” Tim Walz is for the next 90 days?
It’s a shocking level of coordination, even for our toady class of journos. NPR, Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal went with “folksy demeanor.” The New York Times switched it up to “folksy persona.” Bloomberg and Barron’s ran with “folksy appeal.” ABC came out of left field with “folksy mannerisms.”
ST PAUL, MN – AUGUST 14: Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) takes the stage with running mate Peggy Flanagan and their families in front of a crowd of supporters at his election night party on August 14, 2018 in St Paul, Minnesota. Walz won the night’s primary and will go on to be the DFL candidate for Governor in the general election. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Seriously, a memo must have gone out. The memes, of course, started right away as well — hammering home the idea that Walz is just your neighborly dad who loves dogs and hunting, can change your oil and occasionally embarrasses his daughter. Nevermind that Minnesota fell to BLM, Antifa and COVID tyranny under his watch.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz attends a funeral held for Daunte Wright at Shiloh Temple International Ministries on April 22, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Democrats want to have it both ways. They want Walz’s far-left record to drive turnout among the Democrats’ activist base that was disillusioned with Biden. They also want his “folksy demeanor” to drive turnout among the moderate swing voters of the Rust Belt who were also turning away from Biden.
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 28: Protesters clash with police during a rally against the death of Minneapolis, Minnesota man George Floyd at the hands of police on May 28, 2020 in Union Square in New York City. Floyd’s death was captured in video that went viral of the incident. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called in the National Guard today as looting broke out in St. Paul. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
But to the latter, this push is as patronizing as it is obvious. Real Heartland Americans only need to listen to him speak for a couple minutes to realize he’s Minnesota’s very own Gavin Newsom.
