Pretty good introductory video (community, Nebraska, military service, teacher, football coach, common good…), but it’s this Instagram video with his daughter, Hope, that I find is absolutely endearing.

Dan Pfeiffer, writing in The Message Box:

The political logic of the Walz pick is less obvious than with Shapiro and Kelly, the other two finalists. This is especially true with Shapiro, a very popular governor from the critical state of Pennsylvania. Harris likely has no path to the White House without Pennsylvania.

And:

In picking Walz, Kamala Harris looked at something broader than winning one state. She sought a running mate to help her in all seven battleground states. Winning Pennsylvania alone is not enough to get to the White House. Presidential politics is more chess than checkers, and choosing Walz is evidence that Kamala Harris is looking at the whole board.

Lest we forget, the queen is the most powerful piece in chess.

Kamala Harris, via her Instagram account:

I am proud to announce that I’ve asked @timwalz to be my running mate.

A great pick.

It wasn’t the expected choice, although it seemed more likely after calling MAGA folks “weird”, a word that’s stuck, is driving the other side bonkers, and shows he can be an “attack dog” without being “nasty”. I’m sure it raised his profile tremendously.

He seems as midwest as midwest can be, with a definite “everyone’s favorite uncle” vibe, which balances Harris’s “cool Cali auntie” chic. It helps, too, that he’s won in areas that have strong a Republican electorate who might have stayed home this cycle.

Walz also compares remarkably well against J.D. Vance. In some ways, it’s feels like “Actually Midwest” vs. “Hollywood’s image of Midwest.”

I can’t wait for the vice presidential debate.

(Worth noting: The pick was announced on Instagram first, a full ten minutes before it was released on X/Twitter. This is good. Politicians (and others) need to deemphasize Musk’s awful site when breaking news.)