Kamala Harris has picked a white, straight, Christian man as her presidential running mate – but experts say the decision was still a gamble.

On the surface, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ticks all the expected boxes of Harris’s potential vice-president, with the presidential hopeful already contending with racism and sexism as a Black woman of south Asian descent.

But the announcement this week came as a surprise to many who had assumed Harris would select a more high-profile option from an important swing state, such as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro or Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.

“Pennsylvania and Arizona [are states] that went to Trump in 2016 and which Biden won back in 2020, which Harris needs to win in 2024,” United States Studies Centre research associate Ava Kalinauskas told The New Daily.

“So it was interesting to see her overlook that home state advantage, potentially, and the swing state appeal, to go for someone who she reportedly has great personal chemistry with.

“Who she thinks can appeal to rural voters in the Midwest and in the Rust Belt, and who has this progressive record that can potentially energise the Democrats’ base.”

Why choose Walz?

Harris and her team were likely looking for someone who seemed approachable, had a solid political track record, was progressive and had enough personality to excite voters.

It would also be important that the potential running mate had good personal chemistry with the Democratic presidential hopeful, as they face having to tough out an election campaign and, hopefully, at least four years in office side by side.

Kalinauskas referenced reports that Harris and Walz “clicked very well” in a meeting over the weekend, and said the latter’s “folksy” charm may broaden the Democrats’ appeal to rural voters.

With Harris riding high on a wave of viral social media fame, Walz has also made an impact after calling Donald Trump and Republicans “weird” – a simple insult that quickly gained traction online and with other Democrats, including Harris.

In his maiden speech as Harris’ running mate, Walz continued to prove his viral internet credentials by referring to baseless but persistent rumours that Trump running mate JD Vance had sex with a couch.

Like all regular people in America’s heartland, JD Vance studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley billionaires, and wrote a bestseller trashing that community.

Come on.

I can’t wait to debate the guy—that is, if he’s willing to get off the couch and show up. pic.twitter.com/4orv0v2xTZ

— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) August 6, 2024

The Australia Institute International and Security Affairs Program senior researcher Emma Shortis said Walz’s extensive record of progressive political moves would appeal to progressive voters who may have been “alienated” by the likes of Shapiro.

During his time as governor of Minnesota, some of Walz’s actions have included:

• Signing bills providing free meals and menstrual products to school students
• Enshrining the right to abortion into state law after Roe v Wade was overturned
• Signing several gun control measures into state law, despite being a gun owner and supporter of the right to bear arms
• Banning conversion therapy
• Protecting the right to seek and receive gender-affirming care
• Announcing aims to power the state with 100 per cent clean energy by 2040
• Signing bills that provide health insurance coverage regardless of immigration status.

Shortis said Walz – an army veteran, former high school teacher and one-time football coach – benefits from having “big dad energy”.

He seems genuinely affable, funny and dorky in a way that is rare in US politics.

This contrasts against Vance, who outed himself as a “political chameleon” after switching from being a Trump hater to his running mate.

Vance also appears to use his poverty-stricken beginnings to be relatable despite his “thinly-veiled contempt” for the working class, and while glossing over his friendships with the billionaires who helped fund his political ascent.

“I think Walz in particular is unique because he looks like, and appeals to, a moderate version of American politics,” Shortis said.

“Like that Midwestern white guy, football coach image, which is genuine, but he also has those progressive credentials.

“In the context of the Harris campaign, that’s a huge advantage, and not one that many others that I can think of would bring.”

What are his potential liabilities?

Republican supporters were quick to recirculate Walz’s 1995 drink-driving arrest, and his subsequent attempt to blame his balance issues on his partial deafness after he was pulled over. He reportedly had surgery in 2005 to mitigate the hearing issue.

But Walz already spoken about the incident in past years, and has been sober since.

So far, no other dirt appears to have been dug up. But as much as his political stances could win him votes from the left, they also leave him wide open to attacks from the right.

Tim Walz: Another Left-Wing Extremist pic.twitter.com/0Dv2m4cNH2

— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) August 6, 2024

“He’s known for having enacted lots of progressive policies, which I think [Harris] hopes will boost enthusiasm among Democrats and energise the base,” Kalinauskas said.

“But … Republicans have already started seeking to portray him as this ‘dangerous liberal extremist’ due to his policies, especially on things like gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

“Another potential issue that Walz is already facing is … Republican ads targeting his handling of the George Floyd protests that followed the murder of Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020. He called in the National Guard to respond to rioters, but he is being criticised for being too slow to respond.”

Did Harris make the right choice?

Experts agree that it is too early to know for certain whether Harris was right to pick Walz as running mate – but early indicators point to it being a good choice.

Kalinauskas said Harris and Walz are trying to present a positive vision for the future to contrast against what critics are labelling as Trump and Vance’s repressive, conservative agenda, especially given Trump’s links to Project 2025.

“[The Harris-Walz team-up] really leans into that new-found unity in the Democratic Party, and the new-found enthusiasm and energy,” Shortis said.

“I think the potential for that energy to turn into mobilisation and to continue that fundraising momentum is very real.

“But … people were saying that about Trump’s pick of JD Vance in the initial days after the pick … We just have to wait and see.”