Chicagoans Weigh in on Harris's Running Mate Pick, Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz

Chicagoans react after Harris announcement of running mate choice

Photo byScreen Capture/Youtube Video [Creator]

CHICAGO - Shortly after Vice President Kamala Harris secured the Democratic party nomination. she announced that she had chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz as her running mate. As the Democratic National Convention will be held in Chicago in under two weeks, Chicago residents had a lot to say about the Vice President's new running mate.

"I'll be honest, I'm not very political and I hadn't heard of Time Waltz before she [Kamala Harris] picked him," South Side resident J.S. said. "But looking into his background, I think he's a strong running mate. I like that he had a life before becoming a politician and was a public school teacher and football coach. He doesn't sound like another white billionaire."

"The first thing I thought when I heard who she'd [Kamala Harris] picked was that the optics weren't so great, you know?" said K.C. from Edgewater. "I mean he's kind of older, not very attractive and doesn't seem too charismatic. But then he blew Vance out of the water with the couch comment. He can mix humorous zings with righteous attacks based on hard facts."

This individual was referring to the recent comment made by Waltz at the rally in Philadelphia yesterday, when he told the crowd at Temple University, “I can’t wait to debate the guy... if he’s willing to get off the couch.”

Other Chicagoans also referenced the Tuesday rally. M.P a long time resident of Rogers Park said, "He really showed that he was a great VP pick yesterday. While Trump was pulling the same old s**t, with lies and character attacks like calling him [Waltz] a communist which he pulled out of thin air, Waltz was focusing on real issues like the economy and crime."

"Trump and Vance don't stand a chance now," said L.P. a River North resident. "Between her {Harris's] experience in the White House and his {Waltz's] ability to whip up a crowd based on facts and issues like he did yesterday, they [Harris and Waltz] might not sail through the election but they'll win it."

Some in Chicago might have originally preferred a different choice for Harris's running mate.

"I really thought she'd pick Pritzker," said R.F. from Hyde Park. "I mean it made sense to be able to tap into a popular billionaire who could match Trumps spending while outdoing him politically. But the money might have made people more likely to see the election as being more about money than issues. So, I think Waltz is a good pick."

N.A., a resident of the West Side, said, "I was hoping she'd (Harris} pick Pete Buttigieg. He been in the cabinet so he has experience in the White House, is really intelligent, and progressive and is young and charismatic. I think they [Harris and Buttigieg] would have gone great together. But the more I read about Waltz the more I think he's a solid pick."

"I don't know," said J.P. of Rogers Park. "She didn't need Minnesota. She needed one of the big swing states like Pennsylvania or Georgia. They have just too many [electoral] votes to lose."

"He's [Waltz] a great choice," said R.L, a resident of Uptown. "He's shown that he can be an attack dog while also being down to earth and able to talk to any segment of the population. I think he'll make people feel heard."