CHICAGO — United States Sen. Tina Smith said Tuesday that her party’s fascination with vice presidential hopeful Tim Walz isn’t going away anytime soon, crediting the energy surrounding the Democratic presidential ticket to the human nature of the candidates.
Serving as Lt. Gov. to Mark Dayton before her time representing Minnesota in the U.S. Senate, Smith said she’s gotten to know Walz very well over the years. In Chicago on Monday, Aug. 19, she had a reality check with just how much the Minnesota governor’s life has changed.
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“It was kind of a hassle to get into the convention. We came in on a special van and as we are arriving into the big convention area, we’re getting ready to walk in and suddenly there’s a motorcade and all the security is there, pushing us back and telling us to step aside,” Smith explained. “Out of the limo walks Tim and Gwen and Gus and Hope, and it was sort of one of those moments when you realize how much somebody’s life has just changed in an instant.”
When she attempted to approach, Smith said she was stopped by the Secret Service. Someone had to explain that she’s a United States Senator before they allowed her to get closer to Walz.
“When I saw Tim, he gave me a big hug,” Smith said, “and he looked at me with a sparkle in his eye and said ‘Isn’t this fun?’”
It’s been just two weeks since Walz was tapped by Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris to serve as her future vice president. Since then, social media has been teeming with photos and videos showing Walz’s “big dad energy.”
In one video, Walz was recording himself teaching viewers how to replace a headlight harness in his vehicle. In another, he’s having a day with his daughter, Hope, at the Minnesota State Fair, screaming along on a slingshot-style ride.
A favorite from my Walz archive.
— Matt Wagenius (@mattwagenius)
On Monday, the first day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), Walz again went viral for a moment with his kids.
“There was a picture last night that went viral — here it’s our dignified governor and future vice president and our future Second Lady in their box, watching the proceedings,” Smith said, “and there behind them are Gus and Hope, doing the thing that all children do to their parents: rabbit ears. Tim sees it and is laughing.”
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"My kids keep me humble," Walz responded to the moment in a post on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.
My kids keep me humble.
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz)
It’s humanizing moments like those, according to Smith, that lead voters to see Walz more as a person and less as a generic politician.
“I think this is one of the reasons that America is falling in love with Tim Walz and Gwen and their family, and also falling in love with Vice President Harris and Doug [Emhoff] and their family,” Smith said. “They’re seeing these people as actual human beings.”
She added that humanization has resulted in a new sense of energy throughout the political left.
“When there’s this jolt of energy that’s vibrated through the Democratic Party in this country, it’s because people can see themselves, some hope and some reality in where we can go forward with this leadership,” Smith explained. “I know that excitement.”
The excitement hasn’t gone without criticism, however.
“The pundits keep asking me, ‘Is this just a sugar high, Sen. Smith? Are people just going to get over this?’” Smith said. “No, we’re not, because we believe in the promise of this country. We believe in the power of strong leadership to move us forward.”
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Though Walz did not appear on stage at the United Center on Monday, the energy surrounding a Harris-Walz ticket was apparent, with speakers at the DNC offering messages of hope for the party’s nomination and the country’s future. Smith said she hopes to see that energy turn into work.
“We can see the incredible blessings of this country — but we can also see the work that’s left to be done,” she said. “As we’re here [at the DNC] soaking up that excitement, that ambiance… I know what is going to happen as we leave: We’re going to go back ready to do this work.”
With just shy of 11 weeks until Election Day, Smith called on Democrats to keep their energy high and continue to encourage anyone and everyone to vote.
“Our voices are powerful, our votes are powerful,” she concluded, “but only if we use them.”
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