Breaking: VP-To-Be Tim Walz

My Up-Close Observation of the Governor at the Polk County Steak Fry

Last September, I was honored to be invited to the famed Polk County Steak Fry in Des Moines, Iowa.

I flew into Des Moines…

…drove out to a beautiful park on a HOT day…

…and was wowed to see a large crowd in a year that often doesn't generate large crowds…

…and then I got a real treat.

Speaking before me to the crowd was none other than Tim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota.

Now I knew of the Governor, and had heard good things.

But his presentation to the group was a true tour de force.

No notes, in jeans and a white button-down shirt with his sleeves rolled up, he left the stage and walked amid the crowd gathered on the large lawn. As he paced around on this really HOT day, he filled us in on all the great service he and his team are doing in Minnesota.

Now, by almost any measure, under his leadership, Minnesota is doing great things. Most states would love to see their public outcomes matching what Minnesota is getting done.

But it was his down-to-earth way of communicating those goals and accomplishments that stuck out for me. He was folksy, funny, friendly—and he framed and described the agenda he’s been accomplishing as Governor in common sense terms that most Americans would agree with. Pure positive politics.

As he spoke, I looked up his bio—the things he’d done BEFORE politics. And it explained a lot. School teacher. Football coach. Decades of service in the National Guard. What I was witnessing was all of those real-life experiences combined into a truly authentic presentation—both in its substance and style.

By the way, because of the way he presented, you’ll see that the guy who spoke next—me!—felt equally compelled to leave that stage and walk among the crowd:

I’ll admit—when I watched him speak, I did not think I was watching the next Vice President of the United States. He was not mentioned on those lists. But what I saw was phenomenal. Public service and politics at its best.

So once I heard his name come up a few weeks ago, having witnessed what I did and having followed him ever sense (including scanning his state of the state speeches), I’m not at all surprised that Vice President Harris ended up selecting Governor Walz.

This will be a great ticket!

Now let’s go win!!