Staff Reports
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appears to be putting the pedal to the metal in preparation for what seems like a warm-up tour for Vice President Kamala Harris. The hardworking governor is off to California to make nice with union laborers, attempting to cozy up to voters just in time for the upcoming election season. It seems the first stop on his tour will be a love fest with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) at their annual convention in Los Angeles—a fitting stage for a politician eager to flaunt his union ties.
Following his schmoozing session in La-La Land, Walz will head over to Newport Beach for a reception that will surely leave pockets lined with cash for his campaign. This fundraising bonanza will continue across the country, stopping in the posh locales of Denver and Boston, as well as an elite gathering in Newport, Rhode Island, and Southampton, New York. The campaign highlights Walz’s familiarity with union issues, claiming he resonates with the working class, a point they are betting will help them during this fundraising odyssey.
Here’s a release from @KamalaHarris’s campaign about the fundraising trip that will bring @Tim_Walz to Newport on Thursday. It says Walz’s remarks will be covered by a pool reporter pic.twitter.com/5G5gCVxk2C
— Ian Donnis (@IanDon) August 12, 2024
The narrative quickly shifts to Walz’s supposed noble history as a union member, where he gets to play the “big man” card with promises of being pro-worker. It sounds great, but where was he while other governors were busy slashing taxes to help working families? Instead, Walz has a record of hitting Minnesotans with a slew of tax increases, all while guzzling down union contributions like they are the last bottles of cold water in the desert.
What’s particularly interesting about this trip is that it marks Governor Walz’s solo debut, breaking away from Harris’s side for his two-step on the campaign dance floor. It is a move that raises eyebrows, especially given the deep dive into his political record by opponents, including combustible former President Donald Trump, who’s never one to shy away from taking a swing at Democrat contenders. Trump and his running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, are gleefully pointing fingers at Walz’s liberalism with declarations of him being a “liberal radical.”
To top it all off, questions have arisen surrounding Walz’s time in the Army National Guard. They have dug up his decision to retire just before being mobilized to Iraq, painting a picture of a man who jumps ship when the going gets tough. As Walz embarks on this journey that seems equal parts visible and vulnerable, the political popcorn is popping as voters tune in to see if he can charm his way through fundraising dinners or if his past actions might just come back to haunt him.
