Walz Says Voters Thought Harris Campaign 'Full of S---'
Governor Tim Walz and Straw Purchase Legislation in Minnesota, 2024. Photo courtesy of the Office of Governor Walz & Lt. Governor Flanagan. Public domain.
In the wake of major campaign losses, most candidates fade into the background. Not Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Instead, the former Democratic vice-presidential nominee has been unusually candid, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what went wrong during the 2024 campaign — and raising eyebrows in the process. As Kamala Harris' running mate in what became one of the most challenging election cycles for Democrats in decades, Walz isn't holding back. His critiques have sparked conversation, not for their malice, but for their clarity — and the question hanging in the air: Is he dishing dirt or simply telling hard truths?
'Prevent Defense' Politics
In a recent series of interviews, Walz repeatedly pointed to what he viewed as a foundational problem for the Harris campaign: "prevent defense" — an overly cautious football tactic that oftentimes backfires.
In comments to POLITICO, Walz discussed how the Democrats avoided potentially risky interviews and face-to-face interactions with voters to their detriment: "We shouldn't have been playing this thing so safe. I think we probably should have just rolled the dice and done the town halls, where (voters) may say, 'You're full of s--t; I don't believe in you.' I think there could have been more of that."
Walz expanded his prevent defense critique to the entire Democratic party: "We, as a party, are more cautious. In football parlance, we were in a prevent defense to not lose when we never had anything to lose because I don't think we were ever ahead."
However, the "safe" approach was far from Walz's only issue with the campaign.
A Campaign Cut Short
Walz also noted that the compressed timeline of the Democrats' 2024 campaign hamstrung its effectiveness.
After President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July 2024, Harris became the nominee just three months before Election Day — a jarring shift that left the Democratic ticket scrambling to build momentum. As reported by POLITICO, Walz reflected that the shortened campaign limited the opportunities they had to meet voters, solidify a message, and patch potential weaknesses: "These are things you might have been able to get your sea legs, if you will, 18 months out, where the stakes were a lot lower."
Was Walz Sidelined?
Tim Walz with Vice President Kamala Harris on her visit to Minnesota, 2024. Photo courtesy of the Office of Governor Walz & Lt. Governor Flanagan. Public domain.
Several insiders have suggested Walz's critiques may stem, in part, from his limited role in the campaign. Despite being known as an effective communicator — praised for his approachable, folksy tone — Walz was, according to some, underutilized.
Famously, Walz coined the criticism that the Republican Party was "weird," a label Democratic voters and surrogates embraced fervently to undercut their opponents.
Yet, according to a former Harris campaign staffer, as the campaign continued, Walz and the Harris campaign were discouraged from using that label by the campaign leaders and the DNC. In a statement to POLITICO, the anonymous staffer continued: "I think it is fair to ask whether, even if 'weird' wasn't quite right, his instinct about how to approach Trump, to make him seem small, and a huckster, wasn't closer to correct than the more self-serious tone that may have made us sound too in defense of the status quo."
Another anonymous campaign staffer, also speaking to POLITICO, acknowledged: "He was underutilized, and that was the symptom of the larger campaign of decision paralysis and decision logjam at the top."
That staffer went on to explain that campaign leadership hesitated to deploy Walz, only giving him significant appearances with about 20 days left in the campaign, according to POLITICO: "By the time they finally let him do anything at all, it's like 20 days left, and he's doing four states a day, and there's only so much you could do."
Not Throwing Anyone Under the Bus?
To be fair, Walz hasn't framed his comments as finger-pointing.
Governor Tim Walz at Bemidji Steel on July 1, 2024. Photo courtesy of the Office of Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. Public domain.
He's consistently taken responsibility for the loss; a quote reported by The Hill put it best: "When you're on the ticket and you don't win, that's your responsibility."
Still, his willingness to air these critiques — while Harris has remained largely silent — has left some wondering if he's trying to rewrite the narrative of 2024 in his favor.
Whether intentional or not, his remarks have brought new attention to the internal dynamics of the Harris-Walz campaign and raised questions about whether Democrats underestimated the need to connect with voters on a personal, face-to-face level.
What's Next for Walz?
Walz isn't disappearing into the political shadows. In addition to stepping back into the spotlight, he's making TV appearances, hosting fundraisers, and hinting at his political future.
As reported by the Independent, Walz appeared on "The New Yorker Radio Hour," where he hinted, although did not confirm, a 2028 presidential run: "If I think I could offer something... I would certainly consider that. I'm also, though, not arrogant enough to believe there's a lot of people that can do this."
Closer to home, he's also considering running for a third term as Minnesota's governor — a move that would make him the state's longest-serving executive since Rudy Perpich.
Whatever his next chapter holds, one thing's clear: Tim Walz isn't done talking — or campaigning.
References: Tim Walz has some sharp critiques of the Dem 2024 campaign | Walz: Democrats shouldn't have played 'so safe' in 2024 | Walz Goes Scorched Earth on Own 2024 Campaign | 'Just going to be another airline': Southwest bag fee riles social media | Minnesota's Walz to consider a third run for governor instead of seeking a US Senate seat | Tim Walz says he may run for president in 2028 despite failure of 2024 Harris campaign
