NEW YORK — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Tuesday that Vice President Harris’ selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as his running mate makes it “easier ” for Republicans to run against the Democratic ticket in November.
Johnson — speaking to The Hill during a wide-ranging interview in New York City — labeled Walz a “far-left candidate and choice,” arguing that his rise as vice presidential candidate reflects the liberal bent of the Democrats’ campaign.
This dynamic, Johnson argued, will make it easier for Republicans to score victories in November.
“It makes everything easier for us,” Johnson said. “He is a candidate and a choice of the extreme left. I honestly thought she might try to pick a moderate, but obviously she proved once again who she is. We refer to Kamala Harris as a San Francisco radical because she is.”
The House speaker pointed to Harris’ liberal voting record during her time in the Senate, claiming that “she has radical positions that do not align with the American people.”
“I think the selection of Walz just confirms that,” he said.
“Our challenges in the electoral cycle are to make these positions known and not let them obscure, try to obscure their record, which they are already trying to do,” he added. “And the more Kamala talks, the better off we are. I think they recognize that, so they’re trying to keep her hidden and on a teleprompter and very scripted. And we have a window of time to make sure the American people are fully informed about who they really are.”
Harris chose Walz to serve as her running mate on Tuesday, ending weeks of speculation about who her second-place running mate would be. Walz, who has served as governor of Minnesota since 2019, was being considered for the position alongside Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) of Pennsylvania and Sen. Mark Kelly (D) of Arizona.
Harris, in choosing Walz as her vice presidential candidate, pointed to the miner’s “impressive” record, adding that “you see in no uncertain terms how that informs his record.”
The comments from Johnson – the top Republican in Congress – offer a preview of the message the Republican Party will use against Walz, which is already beginning to focus on attacks that he is too liberal. The governor, who spent 12 years in the House, has a liberal political record but may also be appealing in conservative circles because of his distinction as the highest-ranking enlisted soldier in Congressional history and his gun ownership.
Several Republicans said they are breathing a sigh of relief at the news that Harris picked Walz, in part because of Shapiro’s strong appeal in Pennsylvania, a battleground state.
Johnson said Tuesday that “clearly Shapiro would have been a smarter choice” for Harris, but argued that she did not choose him because of his Jewish heritage and because “they are having a split in the Democratic Party” over Israel.
Shapiro, who was the top Jewish figure on Harris’ vice presidential list, drew the ire of some on the far left, who criticized his stance on the Israel-Hamas war. Shapiro’s supporters quickly pointed out that the governor’s stance on the conflict was similar to that of other vice presidential candidates, arguing that he was being nominated because of his Judaism.
“I didn’t expect her to do that,” Johnson said of selecting a more moderate running mate, “because she has proven, once again, to be true to her principles and her priorities, and they are not aligned with the People American.”
“And I think Walz’s selection is a clear sign of that,” he added. “They have no intention of moderating. They would reinforce the failed policies of the Biden-Harris administration. Harris, by nature, is much more progressive and radical than Joe Biden, and will now have a willing accomplice. I think this presents a clear danger to the American people.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
