Derec
Contributor
Pence certainly did, esp. given that Evangelicals were skeptical of Trump's personal sins and transgressions.Dan Quayle (1988) and Mike Pence (2016) were specifically brought on to quell the white Evangelical vote.
But is Quayle even an Evangelical?
Her "demographics" as you put it was the deciding factor. She was not particularly successful when she ran in 2019 (she didn't even make it to calendar year 2020!) and showed poor judgment - in how she ran the campaign (which led to her blee ng money despite strong early fundraising), how she attacked Biden over busing ("I was that girl") and also taking far-left positions on things like fracking.Harris was selected to help carry the state of California's electoral votes. But seriously, her demographics, generalized ambition, and encourage higher turnout.
Walz provides no ideological balance. Kamala is on the left wing of the Democratic Party and Walz is too. Somebody like Shapiro would have been more of a balance here (while also being male) and he is a popular governor in a state Kamala needs and is struggling in. Even Scranton Joe only won PA by 0.2% - it was afaik the closest state in 2020.Walz was added to provide gender balance and a Midwestern charm element and an attempt to manage the Midwest part of the "the wall".
I think Walz' impact outside of Minnesota will be minimal.
Don't know too much about her politics, except that she is foolishly opposing the Enbridge Line 5 replacement.I wanted Whitmer. Solidify the Midwest with a popular midwestern Governor.
But at least as a Michigoose she'd have impact on a battleground state.
But ideologically they are not a contrast at all. Both are lefty Democrats.Harris et al went with the other side of the midwest to fulfill that need. When it looked like Shapiro was going to be the person, it seemed like a good pick, but in hindsight, I think another thing Walz brings is contrast. Gov. Walz comes across in such an organically folksy way, where as Shapiro would have been more of what Harris was already providing in establishment candidate.