Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, recently selected as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, is relatively unknown to the majority of Americans, with 71% saying they have never heard of him or don’t have an opinion. However, in his home state of Minnesota, Walz enjoys a 54% approval rating among registered voters. On the other hand, the other top contender for Harris’s running mate, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, is also relatively unknown nationally, with 53% saying they haven’t heard of him.
Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance has seen a decline in popularity since being selected as former President Donald Trump’s running mate, with 43% viewing him unfavorably in a recent poll. This is compared to a 34% favorable rating.
Harris’s selection of Walz as her running mate comes amidst a turbulent presidential race, which has seen an assassination attempt on Trump, the Republican convention, and President Joe Biden’s exit from the 2024 campaign. The 2024 contest has been reset, with Democrats gaining an advantage in the polls, although the race remains competitive.
Both parties will now be racing to introduce and define Walz to the public, as many voters are seeing him for the first time. With a fairly strong approval rating in Minnesota, Walz may have a chance to make a positive impression on the national stage in the coming weeks.
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