Some liberals expressed concern Tuesday about Vice President Kamala Harris’ new running mate, Tim Walz, with one calling the Minnesota governor a “situational” choice.
“A lot of people are excited, but it’s not all one-sided,” CNN political analyst Van Jones said during an appearance on the network to discuss Harris’ selection.
“What worries me is that conservatives are feeling pretty relieved,” he said, arguing that Republicans are “frightened” that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro or Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) will win the vice presidential election.
“They thought it would help define Kamala as more centrist, and the right is very happy about that, but that’s not good,” Jones said.
Jones also suggested there was “some unease in the Jewish community” about Harris’ choice of Waltz over Shapiro, who is Jewish.
“Some people were hopeful that we might get another chance at a Jewish vice president, something that hasn’t happened in 20 years, and now that opportunity has been taken away,” the CNN contributor said, referring to the late Sen. Joe Lieberman (R-Connecticut), who was Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore’s running mate in 2000.
Jones was shocked at the unrest he saw among the Jews. Because Shaprio is a “moderate” or as a result of “anti-Semitic prejudice.”
“The party is still digesting this,” he said of Harris’ selection.
Liberal columnist EJ Dionne, while praising Harris for choosing Waltz, said: The Washington Post reported He believes the Minnesota governor’s election was “situational.”
“He’s a great governor with a great future ahead of him,” Dionne said of Shapiro, who was once considered a runner-up.
“I think the choice of Waltz was circumstantial. There was a lot of uproar over Shapiro,” he argued. “Much of it was unfair. But Harris clearly decided that fighting over the meaning of the Shapiro choice would be disruptive at a time when she’s doing so well.”
“She was determined to keep the momentum going,” Dionne wrote.
One liberal columnist called Waltz “somewhat unusual” because he is “both a safe choice and an exciting one at the same time.”
