Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the failed 2024 vice-presidential candidate, recently conducted a postmortem on his campaign with former Vice President Kamala Harris and concluded that the Democrats played it too safe during the election cycle. He expressed regret over not taking more risks and engaging with voters in a more candid way. Walz joined Harris on the Democratic ticket in August 2024, just days after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July amid concerns about his mental acuity. The Harris campaign had a short window of just over 100 days to rally support for the Harris-Walz ticket before the election.
The Trump-Vance ticket won the election, sweeping battleground states and earning 312 electoral votes compared to Harris’ 226. Following the election, Walz has been engaging in a media blitz, speaking with various outlets and discussing his experience on the campaign trail. He acknowledged that Democrats tend to be more cautious in their media engagement compared to Republicans and felt that the campaign lacked a sense of urgency, comparing it to a ‘prevent defense’ strategy in football. Internal Democratic polling indicated that Harris was trailing behind Trump leading up to the election.
Walz took responsibility for the party’s loss in 2024, recognizing that as a member of the ticket, the defeat was his responsibility. Former presidential campaign staffers attributed the loss to Walz being underutilized and presented ineffectively to voters. They felt that Walz was kept in a ‘box’ and not effectively utilized by the campaign team, which contributed to the defeat. Despite a push from some allies to have Walz be more prominent in the campaign, he was only brought out in the final days before the election, limiting his impact.
The debate between Walz and then-Ohio Senator JD Vance was challenging, with some aides noting that Walz appeared nervous and struggled to assert himself on the stage. The lack of effective defense against criticisms and failure to properly present Walz to voters were cited as significant shortcomings of the campaign. Walz faced criticism for false claims he made, such as carrying guns while in war, despite not seeing combat during his service in the Army National Guard. The campaign faced challenges in responding to these issues effectively.
Despite the setbacks and criticisms, Walz expressed an openness to a potential presidential run in 2028 during an interview with the New Yorker. This announcement was met with mockery from conservatives on social media. In his Politico interview, Walz confirmed that he is not ruling out a potential presidential run in 2028 if the opportunity arises. He emphasized his commitment to helping the Democratic Party win and stated that he would do everything in his power to support the party’s efforts. Walz’s future plans and potential political ambitions have sparked interest and speculation among observers and commentators.
In conclusion, Gov. Tim Walz reflected on his failed 2024 vice-presidential campaign with Kamala Harris, acknowledging shortcomings and missed opportunities during the election cycle. The campaign was criticized for playing it too safe and failing to engage with voters in a more candid and impactful manner. Walz took responsibility for the party’s loss and expressed a willingness to consider a potential presidential run in 2028. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, Walz remains committed to supporting the Democratic Party and contributing to its success in future elections.
