Kamala Harris Reveals Most Recent ‘Gut Decision’

Vice President Kamala Harris said that choosing her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, was one of “the biggest gut decisions” she’s made in recent weeks.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with MSNBC that aired Wednesday night, the Democratic presidential candidate was asked by the network’s Stephanie Ruhleabout the last time she had to go with her instincts and make “a gut decision.”
“Probably the biggest gut decision I’ve made most recently is to choose my running mate,” Harris responded.
“There were lots of good, incredible candidates,” she added. “And ultimately that came down to a gut decision.”
There were several names reported to be on Harris’ “short list” of vice presidential candidates in the days leading up to her announcement, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who was said to be Harris’ number two choice.
Ultimately, Harris announced Walz, a former public school teacher who represented Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District for 12 years, as her vice presidential pick on August 6, just 16 days after she launched her campaign.
Newsweek reached out to Harris’ campaign for additional comment Wednesday night.
Walz will face his Republican counterpart, Ohio Senator JD Vance, on the national stage in the duo’s first debate October 1. The event, hosted by CBS News, could play a significant role in such a tight presidential race, given that a second debate between Harris and former President Donald Trump appears unlikely.
Politico reported earlier this week that Walz is prepping for Tuesday night with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is pretending to be Vance during the debate practice. Republican Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota is reported to be standing in for Walz for Vance’s preparations, according to sources who spoke with CBS News.
Polling has shown that Walz is more popular among voters nationally compared to Vance. In a recent survey from the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 43 percent of registered voters have a favorable opinion of the Minnesota governor, while just 27 percent feel the same about Vance.
The same survey, conducted from September 9 to September 12, found that Democrats also feel much more positively about their vice presidential nominee. While 72 percent of registered Democrats said they hold a favorable view of Walz, 60 percent of registered Republicans felt the same about Vance.
Update 09/25/24, 9:43 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and background.