Alabama Republicans and Democrats talk changes in presidential campaigns

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — It’s been two days since Vice President Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Republicans and Democrats across the state discussed how her selection impacted campaigns on both sides of the aisle.

“Well, I think the Republicans need to follow the signal, not the noise,” said Alex Reynolds, chair of the Houston County Republican Party.

“Kind of our slogan in the Democratic Party right now is ‘we’re not going back’,” said Robyn Monaghan, chair of the Baldwin County Democrats.

Monaghan said the addition of Waltz is bringing new energy to the campaign trail.

“I think we see joy coming back into politics,” said Monaghan. “It’s fun to laugh, it’s okay to be humorous and joyful.”

Reynolds said their campaign is not about who is on the Democratic ticket, but the party itself.

“It’s not about Harris, it’s not about whoever they put on the ticket,” said Reynolds. “It’s about those policies and platform that they stand on. We believe, in the Republican party, that that’s not what’s best for this country.”

Political analyst Steve Flowers said vice presidential candidates rarely make a difference in campaigns. They can only do harm.

“It was a wise choice because he’s a benign person, doesn’t hurt her one bit,” said Flowers. “The key thing in a vice presidential choice is ‘do no harm.'”

In this year’s campaigns, he said there’s a strategy with who both parties selected. “I think the vice presidential choice of Vance in Ohio, and the Democratic choice of Walz in Minnesota, is to try to get those three, pivotal, rust belt, battle ground states,” he said.

Flowers said that those battleground states are Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

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