Scott Mitchell On Kamala Harris Choosing Tim Walz As Running Mate

Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, was announced as presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris' vice presidential running mate on Tuesday morning.

News 9's political analyst Scott Mitchell joined News 9 at 9 to discuss her decision and its implications for the upcoming election.

Mitchell said Walz has been fairly unknown in his political career but has been a loyal supporter of President Joe Biden.

"He really made his presence known when he was defending President Biden after that disastrous debate performance, so he's been a very loyal and very vocal defender of the president," Mitchell said. "Then when the president drops out, he immediately endorses Vice President Harris, so he's shown that sort of quality that they like, which is loyalty."

Walz is a former congressman and a military veteran and is in his second term as governor of Minnesota.

Mitchell said Harris likely chose Walz to bring balance to the nomination.

"When you start breaking barriers, you've got to do something to make the people that those barriers are being broken on top of being comfortable with," Mitchell said.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was also speculated to be her pick, but Mitchell said his views did not align with the extreme left.

He said Walz falls more in the "centered left," but similarly to Shapiro, he has been able to be an effective democratic leader in a state that leans more Republican.

"This is one of those situations where you're just looking for balance and the ability to govern. That's maybe his biggest quality," Mitchell said.

Mitchell said the Democrats in Oklahoma he has talked to like Walz as the pick, but overall it will not change much in the state's votes.

"I've already talked to two or three. They like this choice, but as far as the vote total in Oklahoma, it won't make a bit of a difference," Mitchell said.