NEWSWEEK
Experts are split on whether recent gaffes made by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz may be harming Kamala Harris‘ election chances.
Walz, the Democratic Party‘s vice presidential candidate, has been forced to walk back on a number of remarks which had the potential to cause an unnecessary distraction for Harris’ 2024 bid.
This includes backtracking on his suggestion that the Electoral College system determining who wins general elections “needs to go”—which is not an official Harris campaign position. Walz later told ABC News “my position is the campaign’s position” and that he was only trying to clarify that “every vote must count in every state.”
During the recent vice presidential debate against Donald Trump‘s running mate JD Vance, Walz called himself a “knucklehead” for previously falsely claiming he was in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing in 1989. Walz also had to clarify comments he made at the debate where he said he had “become friends with school shooters.” Walz said he meant to say he has a history of “meeting people where there are school shooters.”
Polls indicate the race between Harris and Trump is neck and neck with just over three weeks to go. Any undecided voter who may be put off from backing the vice president over concerns about Walz may prove pivotal, especially in the key battleground states.
Numerous polls also suggest viewers believe that Vance came out on top over Walz during the vice presidential debate on October 1.
Christopher Devine, an associate professor of political science at the University of Dayton and author of Do Running Mates Matter?: The Influence of Vice Presidential Candidates in Presidential Elections, said that Walz’s Electoral College comment may not harm the Democratic ticket’s 2024 chances as it is not a pressing issue for voters.
Devine said other gaffes or misstatements by Walz may “raise questions about his competence and honesty” from voters.
“Vice presidential running mates face a dilemma. They are expected to comment frequently on a wide range of political issues, and do so in a way that is heartfelt and genuine,” Devine told Newsweek.
“Yet they also must not say anything that contradicts their boss, the presidential candidate, or steps on other campaign messaging.
“He might get away with portraying himself as an affable ‘knucklehead’ for now. But if more such statements emerge in the coming weeks, voters—whose opinions of Walz have been quite favorable thus far—may come to doubt him as a candidate, and question Harris for picking him,” Devine added.
Vance has also faced scrutiny since he was chosen as Trump’s running mate. The Ohio senator faced widespread condemnation after his previous comments on abortion and “childless cat ladies” re-emerged. Vance has also at times recorded historic low favorability ratings for a vice presidential candidate.
Nathan Price, an associate professor of political science and international affairs at the University of North Georgia, said he doubts Walz’s comments are hurting Harris’ campaign.
“This race has been remarkably stable since Harris entered at the end of July and most candidate gaffes and other significant events have not changed the fundamentals of the race,” Price told Newsweek. “Most voters vote for/against candidates at the top of the ticket, and I do not think there is anything here that would change many voters’ minds about whether to support the vice president.
“I would also add that I think some of Vance’s comments, such as the remarks about childless cat ladies, probably did more damage in helping the campaign make inroads with unmarried women, as they are much more personal than anything Walz has said.”
Price also suggested that Walz’s rural background is a bonus to help push Harris’ economic plans and tailor it to appeal to “blue-collar, working-class voters,” especially in key swing Rust Belt states.
“Walz is a bit more populist on some of these issues and I think that plays well in states such as Wisconsin and Michigan. Additionally, his plainspokenness is not an issue with these voters,” Price said.
Walz has previously faced scrutiny for his public comments. Soon after he was chosen as Harris’ running mate, Vance accused Walz of “stolen valor” after the Minnesota governor falsely suggested he served in combat.
The Minnesota governor spent 24 years in the National Guard, but never saw active combat. In 2018, Walz said while speaking about gun control: “We can make sure those weapons of war, that I carried in war, are only carried in war.”
Walz later said he misspoke when he appeared to suggest he had fought in a war during his military service.
Recent polls suggest Walz remains more liked than Vance among voters.
A post-debate Morning Consult survey revealed Walz saw a 3-point boost to his favorability rating (45 percent to 48). In comparison, Vance recorded a lower favorbale rating than Walz even after the Republican‘s overall score rose 1 point from 39 percent to 40.
The survey was conducted October 4-6 among 11,353 likely voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage point.
