by
Gov. Whitmer
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who had removed herself from the vice presidential sweepstakes, on Tuesday lauded Kamala Harris's selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.
I'm so excited that my friend @Tim_Walz will be the next Vice President of the United States! As a fellow Midwesterner and governor, I know firsthand that his leadership is an important asset to this ticket. He’ll be an excellent partner for @KamalaHarris, and I’ll do everything…
— Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) August 6, 2024
The pick for vice president had reportedly come down to Walz, 60, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, 51.
Shapiro, who is Jewish, was sharply criticized by some in the party for a commentary he wrote in college, saying Palestinians are too “battle-minded” to pursue peace with Israel. Some found that column offensive and wanted Shapiro to apologize.
Conversely, some TV commentators accused some who opposed Shapiro of being antisemtic, saying his current views on the Israeli-Palestinian situation were similar to other vice presidential candidates who weren't Jewish. Shapiro said he's for a two-state solution, and is highly critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In the end, Democratic insiders may have felt they didn't need to deal with the distraction at a very violatile time in the Middle East with Israel and its neighbors. Many Arab and Muslim voters have expressed anger at the Biden administration for supplying arms to Israel during the war in Gaza.
Walz is a former Congressman and teacher, who served in the National Guard.
