The Stage is Set for the Mother of all Presidential Elections

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Harris / Walz a true blue - blood democratic ticket to conquer Trump and Co.

With the selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as the VP candidate, the new look democratic ticket is now complete and ready to go.

Vice President Kamala Harris has just made one of the most consequential decisions of her burgeoning presidential run. By selecting Tim Walz, the 60-year-old governor from Minnesota, she has demonstrated that she is not only looking for a short-term advantage but for a genuine governing partner if she were to be elected President in November.

Conventional wisdom says that the choice of vice president on a presidential ticket is not relevant, as people only vote for the President. However, when former president Trump says this, it is much more of a slight criticism of his own vice president pick, JD Vance. In this most unusual election year, the choice of a vice president is indeed significant as it clearly illustrates the tone, style, and substance of each party as they get ready for the general election.

Tim Walz's most recent claim to fame is branding JD Vance and Trump as "weird", which immediately caught on and has become a catchphrase for the Democrats. Lest we forget, it was President George W. Bush who first coined the term that was more of a cry from the gut as a well-thought-out reflexion - we are, after all, talking about George W. Bush here. After hearing Donald Trump's inaugural address in January 2017, he famously turned to Hillary Clinton and whispered, "That was some weird s....". And the weirdness has just kept on giving over the past eight years from the Republican side, caught up as they are in the Trump cult phenomenon.

The choice of Governor Shapiro from Pennsylvania appeared to be the obvious choice as the 19 electoral votes at stake in this State are a must win for the Democrats, but Harris has decided it is more important to have a well-balanced ticket that will appeal to the Democrats at large and to the larger electorate at hand. Walz will reassure the elderly, more conservative minded Democrats who were very much behind Joe Biden. Walz is often portrayed as a progressive politician, whereas upon closer examination he is more of a down to earth, Midwestern centre of the road Democrat, who has a no nonsense approach to governing. The fact that he was for numerous years the Chairman of the Veterans Committee in Congress will be a positive, as will his service of over 25 years in the National Guard. Last but not least, he speaks in simple terms and can connect with the voters without having to pretend that he is something he is not - and this authenticity allows him to state the obvious in clear, understandable and relatable terms - hence the "weird" comment. For once, and this is unusual for Democrats, they seem to have the messaging right.

The combination of "freedom" as in the defence of all rights and "no going back" to the chaos and weirdness of the Trump presidency is a potent call to arms and will give the Democrats the platform they need to stage their forthcoming nominating convention.

Focusing on the future, on the positive vision of a united America where each individual can enjoy the freedoms that are deserved and where respect, tolerance and the emphasis on professionalism and competence in governing will mark a clear contrast with a washed out, older former President who is running increasingly on a platform of known grievances and who like a broken record is repeating the same untruths time and time again, promoting fear over hope.

The choice, as clear as it maybe, is not a foregone conclusion. The recent turbulence on the stock market is an indication that many more spanners are lurking in the shadows, ready to be thrown into the works, be it from within the US or from foreign States who will undoubtedly seek to influence the election as they have in the past. The kitchen table issues cannot be set aside as they matter to the American voter who intrinsically has a better understanding of such matters as compared to more theoretical concepts of "threat to democracy". Once again, the choice of Tim Walz is astute in this respect as well, as he has a proven track record in Minnesota of tackling such issues successfully, as illustrated by the law he enacted guaranteeing free school meals for all children in the State.

The Harris - Walz ticket has all the cards in its hands to continue building momentum and capitalise on the unprecedented passion, exuberance and excitement that have engulfed the Democrats since the advent of Harris to the top of the ticket. It will be up to the two protagonists to ensure that they can perform in tandem as they dance their way to the presidency.