Political strategists are questioning many of Kamala Harris’ campaign decisions, including her choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running partner.
“The choice of Walz was only one of many disastrous mistakes but symptomatic of one larger problem – the Democratic Party leadership is too scared to say no to the hard left progressive wing of the party,” Julian Epstein, longtime Democratic operative and former chief counsel to the House Judiciary Committee, told Fox News Digital.
“The radical left opposes pragmatic alternatives like charter schools, which Gov. Shapiro supports. Or defeating terrorists rather than adopting their talking points and stances, which allow them to maintain power and prepare for the next murderous attack,” Epstein added. “The hard left progressive wing prioritizes welfare and redistribution over economic growth, as well as cultural extremism on migration and gender, which is deeply out of touch with the American electorate.” Walz was unquestionably a horrible choice, but it was part of a larger issue.”
According to Rob Bluey, president and executive editor of The Daily Signal, the addition of Walz to the ticket was a serious error in judgment.
“Historically, vice presidents have little impact on a presidential candidate’s fate,” says Bluey. “But in the instance of Tim Walz, it proved to be a terrible mistake, dooming Kamala Harris from the start. Not only was Walz unprepared for the national limelight and media scrutiny, but Harris turned down other better candidates. Given how little Americans knew about Harris or her policy ideas, they were correct to question her judgment on this major decision.”
Harris attracted criticism from some members of her own party for naming Walz, who many see as more left-wing than she is, rather than a more moderate candidate. Some saw prominent Democrat Josh Shapiro, governor of the important swing state of Pennsylvania that Trump won on Tuesday night, as a more practical alternative.
“One of the things that are top of mind is the choice of Tim Walz as vice presidential candidate,” said Harris-Walz spokesperson Lindy Li to Fox News senior White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich at Howard University. “Many people are claiming tonight that it should have been Josh Shapiro. Honestly, folks have been saying that for months.”
“I know a lot of people are probably wondering tonight what would have happened had Shapiro been on the ticket,” he said. “And not just in terms of Pennsylvania. He is well-known for his moderate views. So that would have communicated to the American people that she is not the San Francisco leftist that Trump claimed she is.”
Walz was heavily criticized during the campaign for his honesty on his military career, ties to China, response to the George Floyd riots in 2020, and policy plan as governor, which numerous Minnesotans who talked with Fox News Digital regarded as extreme.
According to Firehouse Strategies founding partner Alex Conant, while Walz did not help the ticket, the issues were far more serious.
“Democrats must have a lot of regrets,” Conant observed. “Walz did not help the ticket, but he was not the reason she lost. “VP candidates don’t really matter.”
“Bigger issues were Trump’s well-run campaign, Biden’s unpopular record, and Harris’ lackluster performance as a candidate – and I’m not sure how she could have changed any of those things.”
