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Excerpt from www.politico.com
How Tim Walz could help Harris connect with veterans
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz joins the Democratic ticket with a record of military service and work on veterans’ issues that could help Vice President Kamala Harris make the argument that the Democratic Party is the one that can protect the country’s national security.
Harris’ pick for vice president has a thin foreign policy resume and his stances largely mirror that of his running mate. Yet Walz also spent 24 years in the Army National Guard before retiring as a command sergeant major, making him the highest-ranking enlisted soldier to serve in Congress when he joined the House in 2007. While he was deployed abroad to regions including the Arctic Circle during his military service, he did not see combat, unlike his Republican counterpart, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).
That background could also bolster Harris, who has been a top surrogate for President Joe Biden on the world stage but has no military background.
Walz has been noted primarily for his ability to connect with rural voters, having won election to Congress in a traditionally Republican area. But Walz could also buttress Democrats’ appeal among veterans and servicemembers.
