Address him as Coach.

Despite Tim Walz’s five-year tenure as Minnesota’s governor and 12 years in Congress prior, he embraced a more casual introduction on Wednesday to connect with Americans unfamiliar with him until Kamala Harris selected him as her running mate two weeks ago.

He presents himself not just as a politician, but as a dedicated husband and father, an avid deer hunter and car enthusiast, a social studies teacher, and a basketball coach from Minnesota who transformed his high school team from underperformers to state champions.

At the Democratic National Convention, he stated to enthusiastic applause, “I haven’t given many grand speeches, but I’m skilled at giving pep talks. Let me end with this: We’re in the fourth quarter, trailing by a field goal, but we are on offense with the ball in our hands.”

With that sentiment, he conveyed that Democrats could “block and tackle” their way through the remaining 76 days of the campaign to “move past Donald Trump.”

There was a clear intention in his presentation about who he is: he was introduced on stage by 15 young men who were once his football players at Mankato West High School, some still wearing the old red football jerseys that now fit a bit snugly.

A wave of “Coach Walz” banners was seen throughout the crowd in the United Center.

A chance to create a lasting impression

Timothy James Walz, arguably the most overlooked candidate chosen for a major-party ticket since Sarah Palin, had a valuable chance during his speech on the Democratic National Convention’s third evening to establish a first impression.

It was a significant opportunity—yet fraught with risk.

This risk stemmed from the competition among Democrats who wish to portray Walz as a cheerful fighter and relatable Midwesterner, while Republicans attempt to frame him as a left-wing radical lacking in honesty.

However, he came across as straightforward, genuine, candid, and humorous. Unlike the assured and eloquent speeches from former Presidents Barack Obama and Michelle Obama that captivated the audience the previous night, Walz’s address felt more down-to-earth.

At 60, and sporting a receding hairline, Walz exuded a friendly yet resolute demeanor, steering clear of pretensions.

Barack Obama had previously noted, “You can tell those flannel shirts are not consultant-made; they come from his own closet and have seen some action.”

As his speech concluded and his family joined him on stage, his 17-year-old son Gus smiled with tears of pride in his eyes, declaring, “That’s my Dad,” to the applause of the crowd.

The role of vice presidents: often overlooked, but sometimes impactful

Generally, vice-presidential candidates do not significantly influence presidential election results, which mainly hinge on the lead candidate. The last instance where a running mate had a noticeable impact was 60 years ago when Sen. Lyndon Johnson helped John F. Kennedy secure Texas, ultimately clinching a narrow victory for the Democrats in 1960.

Nonetheless, vice-presidential selections can lead to unfortunate diversions, as Donald Trump recently learned with his choice of JD Vance at last month’s Republican convention.

The Ohio senator continues to clarify his past controversial comments, including his 2021 remark about the nation being governed by “childless cat ladies,” in reference to Harris.

Despite this, Harris seems to be reaping the benefits of good chemistry with Walz, whose energetic presence on stage enhances her image as part of a vibrant new generation stepping up.

“Most voters tend to base their choices primarily on the presidential candidates, but I believe Gov. Walz might hold more significance than many vice presidential candidates,” commented Joel Goldstein from St. Louis University, who has examined vice presidential roles. Their contrasting backgrounds—Harris as a prosecutor from San Francisco and Walz, a public-school teacher from rural Nebraska—could broaden the ticket’s appeal.

He successfully fulfilled one traditional vice-presidential duty: criticizing the opposing ticket.

Walz asserted that Trump and his vice-presidential pick JD Vance would pursue a far-right agenda, “an agenda serving only the wealthiest and most extreme among us.” He warned they would seek to impose a nationwide abortion ban and dismantle the Affordable Care Act.

“Is it strange?” he posed, using a term he coined in reference to Trump. “Absolutely. But it’s also wrong, and it poses a danger.”

With Kamala Harris, he declared, “we have something far better to offer the American public.”

She is scheduled to accept the presidential nomination during the convention’s peak moment on Thursday night.

Hero Teacher or Deceptive Character?

Just hours before his speech, a Democratic super-PAC named Priorities USA Action, along with the American Federation of Teachers, announced a substantial ad campaign highlighting a former student of “Mr. Walz.” In the ad, she recalled his efforts to create an inclusive classroom for students with various political views.

Simultaneously, the Trump-Vance campaign issued an open letter endorsed by 50 Republican military veterans. They accused Walz of making “significant misrepresentations” regarding his 24-year tenure in the National Guard.

The controversy stems from Walz’s claim that he retired as a “command sergeant major.” While he did achieve that rank, he actually retired one rank lower. The letter criticized his assertion from 2018 that he had carried weapons “in war,” pointing out that he had never seen combat but had only participated in support missions.

The letter also accused Walz of “abandoning your troops,” referencing his decision to retire as he launched his first congressional campaign, coinciding with rumors that his unit might be sent to Iraq.

While Walz did not directly respond to the accusations, he expressed pride in enlisting in the National Guard immediately after turning 17. A video that aired before his speech featured two men he served with, who praised his leadership skills.

Before being selected by Harris, a poll conducted by ABC/Ipsos revealed that 90% of Americans were unfamiliar with him. According to a new AP/NORC poll, 36% of people view him favorably, while 25% hold an unfavorable view.

This still leaves a significant portion—one in four Americans—undecided about him.