As Kamala Harris finalized her decision on who would be her running mate, Tim Walz made a startling admission – he had never used a teleprompter.
The Minnesota Governor, 60, told Harris’ vetting team that he would need a crash course on using the device if selected. But the confession didn’t stop him ‘acing’ the final interview, sources told CNN.
The outlet reported that Walz endeared himself to Harris and her team by being candid about his vulnerabilities, which also included being a ‘bad debater’ and having little national name recognition.
By the time the vetting process was over, ‘everyone loved’ Walz, sources told the network, helping him beat the last two names on Harris’ shortlist – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.
To win a place on Harris’ ticket, Walz survived a rigorous process from her vetting team to gauge his compatibility on the campaign trail and possible time in the White House.
During the final stages, Walz reportedly outshone the rest by demonstrating that he would be a ‘team player.’
Sources familiar with Walz’s meeting with Harris’ team said that when asked how he saw his role as vice president, he said he would carry out his duties however Harris wanted him to.
The Minnesota Governor further impressed with his apparent intention to not overshadow Harris, and said he wouldn’t need to be the final person in the room before she made a decision – unless she wanted him to be.
One of the members of the vetting team, Cedric Richmond, a former Louisiana congressman and Biden advisor, told CNN that it was Walz’s pragmatic approach that sealed the deal.
‘He had a very clear understanding that it was to be a partner, but to support the president, go out and connect with America and be that governing partner,’ he said.
‘It’s not the easiest of positions, but it’s a very important position.’
Walz also dismissed any claim that he had his own presidential ambitions in the future, possibly giving him a leg-up over Shapiro who pundits have speculated has plans to run for the White House down the line.
This reportedly stuck with Harris after she was done with her final interviews, as she did not expect Walz to be so open about not seeking the presidency himself.
Richmond said: ‘That showed his willingness to say, ‘Look I’m not concerned about my image or my approval rating or what’s next for me in the next chapter of life. I’m going to stay in this moment, be your vice president, run through walls, fight for the American people and demonstrate our values.’
‘That’s a strong and compelling argument,’ he added.
Another source concluded that Walz’s final interview was a ‘home run.’
The same could not be said of Shapiro, who reportedly struggled to strike the same tone as he asked ‘a lot of questions’ about what his role as VP would entail.
‘He was negotiating the job with her, while Walz was saying, ‘What can I do to help?” an insider told CNN.
A source familiar with Shapiro’s final meeting with Harris said he came off as overly ambitious, which made for a ‘striking contrast’ between himself and Walz.
Shapiro’s support for Israel was also seen as a potential sticking point, with one insider saying Harris was keen to avoid ripping ‘that scab back open’ after protests over civilian casualties in Gaza earlier in the year.
Although Harris saw a surge in the polls after she announced her presidential campaign just weeks ago, experts were concerned that she may struggle to bring together a wide enough voter base to defeat Donald Trump in November.
An insider said that although Walz is not from a swing state, his folksy, midwestern demeanor may help where Harris falls short.
‘He hunts, he fishes, you want to have a beer with him,’ the source, who was not named, told CNN.
‘He will play in Michigan, Wisconsin, Western Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina’, the source added, with staffers reportedly joking that he will lock up a ‘Blue Walz’ – a pun on the ‘Blue Wall’ that led Joe Biden to win the White House in 2020.
‘(Walz) talks and looks like a lot of the voters we’ve lost to Trump,’ added another insider.
Those who knew the ins-and-outs of Harris’ vetting process said that Walz ultimately came off as a ‘happy warrior’ type, who would bring ‘joy and excitement’ to the campaign trail.
CNN reported that although former Attorney General Eric Holder was a prominent member of the vetting team, three others worked behind-the-scenes to find the right running mate.
This was Richmond, along with former Boston mayor and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, each of whom are close to Harris.
They reportedly whittled the shortlist down to nine candidates at first, before pushing six into video calls with the committee.
After these interviews, Walz and Shapiro emerged as the clear favorites, with Kelly on the final podium as a third option for Harris.
But for Walz to edge out his competitors, he gathered a number of Democratic Party bigwigs to propel him across the finish line – with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi leading the way.
Former President Barack Obama also offered a glowing review of Walz, and after his recent success on social media, Harris reportedly found herself ‘liking the way (Walz) operates.’
When the official call came in for Walz, he was reportedly at his home with his wife and two children waiting for the decision.
But he almost missed the most important phone call of his life when it came through on a blocked number, which Walz ignored as he didn’t want to miss the call from Harris.
The vice president then got him on a second try, and the Minnesota Governor was promptly handed his victory speech as he celebrated with his family.
He then ordered donuts for staffers and thanked them for their help, and practiced using a teleprompter for the first time in anticipation of his introductory rally with Harris in Philadelphia on Tuesday.