The Kamala Harris-Tim Walz Ticket

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Credit…Jenn Ackerman for The New York Times

To the Editor:

Re “Tim Walz Is Kamala Harris’s Choice for Vice President” (nytimes.com, Aug. 6):

Kamala Harris has announced that Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota will be her running mate. Some see him as the “safer” choice, but perhaps not the best pick or the most inspired choice.

Ms. Harris may be adhering to the old political maxim that the most important thing about picking a running mate is to “do no harm,” and that Mr. Walz better fits this description than does Josh Shapiro.

In not picking Mr. Shapiro, Ms. Harris may have judged that his being governor of the critical battleground state of Pennsylvania is less important than his possibly being controversial, because he’s an observant Jew or because of his views on the situation in Gaza, which some find divisive.

Furthermore, Tim Walz is undeniably a solid pick, and an unassuming, witty and funny guy, all positive attributes in a vice president and in a running mate. Harris-Walz sounds like a musical composition from Johann Strauss, and hopefully they will indeed make beautiful “music” together.

I have little doubt that Democrats will quickly accept Mr. Walz’s selection and rally around this duo. It surely feels now as if these two will give the Democrats an excellent chance to defeat the Trump-Vance ticket in November. Now, on to the election!

Ken Derow
Swarthmore, Pa.

To the Editor:

With the selection of Tim Walz as her running mate, in contrast with Donald Trump’s choosing JD Vance, Kamala Harris has prioritized, above and beyond more nuanced considerations such as personal chemistry, significant legislative and executive experience as prerequisites in a potential replacement.

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