Did Harris choose the wrong VP?
Before Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, many Americans were unfamiliar with him. A recent NPR/PBS/Marist poll revealed that 71% of respondents had either never heard of Walz or had no opinion of him. Among those familiar with him, 17% viewed him positively and 12% negatively. This contrasts with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, another top contender for the position, where 53% of people hadn’t heard of him, while 25% had a favorable opinion and 23% an unfavorable one.
As Walz is introduced to a broader audience, both political parties will need to work hard to establish his presence. In his home state of Minnesota, Walz enjoys a relatively strong approval rating, with 54% of voters approving of his performance as governor, according to a Morning Consult poll. Conversely, Pennsylvania’s Shapiro has a slightly higher approval rating of 56%, with 31% disapproving.
Nationally, many voters, including both supporters of Harris and Trump as well as undecided individuals, have expressed a lack of familiarity with Walz. For instance, Rajiv Geffert, an undecided voter from Wisconsin, admitted needing to research Walz further, while Harris supporter Nicola Marshall from Arizona also noted she hadn’t heard of him.
In contrast, recent polls show a decline in the popularity of Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance. The NPR/PBS/Marist poll found Vance’s favorability at 34%, with 43% viewing him unfavorably. This represents a drop from July, when his ratings were more evenly split.
The selection of Walz comes amid a tumultuous presidential race, marked by recent high-profile events including an assassination attempt on Trump, the Republican convention, and President Joe Biden’s exit from the campaign. This evolving political landscape has reset the competitive dynamics, though the race remains tight, as reflected in public polling.
