Who is Tim Walz, the "perfect" candidate for vice-president of the United States

Kamala Harris and the American Democratic Party have chosen Tim Walz as their vice presidential candidate.That's why the choice was almost inevitable.

A male, certainly. Not young.Strictly white. Moderate And reassuring for the electorate, even if capable of some significant "leaps forward".Possibly coming from one of the key states, crucial for the final result.The identikit of the person he was supposed to cover the role of Kamala Harris' deputy in the race to White House in view of the November elections it had been clearly outlined by the leadership of the Democratic Party.And he transformed into the elderly, good-natured and "good neighbor" face of Tim Walz.

Progressive choices but also compromises

Former teacher, football coach and National Guard officer, the 61 years old he satisfied, one by one, all the criteria.Including the geographical one, since it comes from Minnesota (even though he was born in Nebraska):one of the states of Midwest in which a good part of the match for the conquest of the Oval Room will be played.

The choice, however, aroused a bit of surprise:as he writes New York Times, the predestined seemed to be Josh Shapiro, governor of Pennsylvania.Not surprisingly, Republican leaders “have spent much of the last two weeks looking for potential elements to attack him.”But it didn't take long, and the Grand Old Party found a way to lash out against Walz too.

The first objective, continues the American newspaper, is “to present it as a radical, in the hope of attenuating the probable centrist posture that the vice-presidential candidate could take."As?Highlighting some progressive choices which he adopted at the head of Minnesota and, before, the positions assumed as a deputy.

First congressman, then governor of Minnesota

Walz was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2006, where he will remain for twelve years.He will leave Congress for the governor's job, which will launch in 2019 facing two enormous crises:there pandemic and the death of the African American George Floyd, killed in Minneapolis by a white policeman while he was pinned to the ground and unarmed, an event that will cause months and months of anti-racist protests throughout the United States.

Faced with the wave of anger among the population, Walz is actually criticized by both the right and the left:or for not having acted in the face of violence (an accusation to which he will respond by sending "his" National Guard), on the other as the representative of a white, wealthy and privileged establishment in the America of extreme inequalities.

Abortion, canteens, weapons:progressive choices and Sanders' endorsement

Some of Walz's positions are clearly progressive:like the one on right to abortion, a topic that strongly divides American society.The new candidate alongside Kamala Harris he is a staunch defender of women's freedom to decide.But criticism from the Republican camp they also arrive on other fronts:the Democratic governor imposed the free meals in school canteens, the legalization of cannabis for consumers over 21 years old, the increase in sick leave and for maternity And paternity, a crackdown on the sale of Weapons.From a foreign policy point of view, he also openly stood for a ceasefire in Gaza.

All this earned Walz the "heavy" endorsement by Bernie Sanders, who in an interview given on Saturday to Minnesota public radio expressed his appreciation for "a man who I believe is capable of understanding the needs of the working classes".

Nonetheless, the governor is also known for having known how to entertain over time relations with republican representatives, having been able to build bridges and accept compromises.Walz's campaign officially kicked off with a meeting in Pennsylvania.Three very busy months will follow, until the fateful November 5th.