Kamala Harris' 'dark horse' VP candidate has become her 'momentum candidate': analyst

The shortlist of Democrats vying to serve as Kamala Harris’ running mate is narrowing down to a few strong contenders, but one unlikely lawmaker seems to be gaining steam, according to a Washington Post analyst.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is “the momentum candidate” according to an analysis from senior political reporter Aaron Blake.

“Nobody’s stock has risen over the past week as much as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who was previously thought to be something of a dark horse for the job,” Blake writes. “Walz has pushed himself into the conversation with a barrage of media appearances in which he’s played up his rural roots and everyman appeal.”

He was one of the first to characterize the Republican ticket as “weird,” a notion that has ballooned into a now dominating talking point among critics.

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The remaining finalist for the vice presidential nomination includes swing state leaders, such as Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. Also still in the running is Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has been busy indulging a dense media circuit where he’s often on the top of his game.

“While Walz is the hot new thing, Buttigieg has been doing this kind of thing for years — even going on Fox News to joust with its hosts,” Blake writes.

Rounding out the pack is Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who has emerged as an “anti-Vance’ Blake writes, calling out Vance’s memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, as “phony.”

“To the extent the name of the game is to create a contrast in running mates, Beshear has positioned himself as that,” Blake writes.