MINNEAPOLIS — What began as an endearing quality has turned into a significant issue for Tim Walz: his choice of words.

The 60-year-old Governor of Minnesota is facing challenges after a string of exaggerations and verbal missteps, especially after joining Kamala Harris as the Democratic vice presidential nominee for the 2024 election. Chosen for his straightforward Midwestern style and ability to relate to everyday people, Walz’s initial appeal to the national audience has been overshadowed by the need to justify his frequent misstatements.

“Welcome to the NFL,” said Chris Pack, a Republican strategist, who noted that although “Tim Walz might be a nice guy in Minnesota,” candidates are expected to be held to a higher standard in the national political landscape.

Walz’s errors range from mistakenly discussing the fertility treatment he and his wife utilized, to claiming friendship with school shooters during a debate against Republican opponent JD Vance, and even embellishing his military history and trips to China. These blunders have become increasingly noticeable.

The incidents keep piling up.

Recently, the Harris campaign was prompted to clarify that they did not support Walz’s remarks at a California fundraiser, where he suggested that the Constitutionally-mandated Electoral College “needs to go.” This came shortly after a television appearance where Walz expressed his intention to “wake up on November 6 with Madam President.”

In one instance, Walz explained his words in a humorous exchange with comedian Jimmy Kimmel, where he acknowledged, “I struggle with being precise in my language. So, thank you for that, specifically.” He laughed alongside the audience, attempting to brush off the situation.

However, not all moments end on a light note. Walz frequently faces tough questions from the media about his misstatements and has had to spend a considerable amount of time addressing them as the 2024 campaign enters its final phase. This distracts from the primary focus for Democrats, which was supposed to be about backing Harris’ record and policy initiatives. Walz has even shared that Harris advised him to be more cautious with his communication.

Republicans have seized on this issue as well, questioning Walz’s suitability as a potential second-in-command. Former President Donald Trump has labeled him a “lightweight” and “total moron,” while Vance commented on social media after concerns about Walz’s personal history arose: “It’s fair to assume that someone lacking integrity should stay away from the Oval Office.”

While Harris and Trump are the primary candidates in the 2024 presidential race, Pack believes Walz’s “blatant falsehoods” will offer advantages to Republicans come November.

“He doesn’t come off as a serious candidate and brushes off everything as a ‘knucklehead’ moment, but is a ‘knucklehead’ really fit to potentially be vice president?” Pack questioned. “Such a perception doesn’t inspire trust in his capability to perform the role.”

Mistake or misrepresentation?

Like many vice presidential candidates before him, late-night television has played a significant role in amplifying Walz’s errors in the public discourse.

In a recent Saturday Night Live skit, Jim Gaffigan humorously portrayed Walz during his debate with Vance, specifically poking fun at Walz’s convoluted explanation for misstating the duration he spent in China during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

“I think what happened was, I visited Epcot,” Gaffigan joked, referencing Walz’s confusing explanation. “You can travel around the world there, and I might have had a few drinks in the Germany exhibit, and thought I’d been to China. Anyway, I’m just a knucklehead.”

The Harris-Walz campaign refers to the various blunders as “misspeaks,” labeling them as sincere errors arising from Walz’s enthusiastic manner of communication, especially when responding to queries in lively situations.

Supporters of Walz argue that his missteps don’t reflect his character or how he would govern if elevated to leadership. They claim his struggles with national scrutiny are charming and argue that it won’t negatively impact the campaign. They highlight concerns surrounding Trump as voters consider bringing him back into office.

“It’s just a slight exaggeration or an honest mistake,” stated Elaine Kamarck, who leads the Brookings Institution’s Center for Effective Public Management and was a senior advisor to Al Gore during his vice presidency and 2000 presidential run. “He’s competing against a candidate who is facing serious legal issues; this all seems quite trivial in comparison.”

Pack disagrees. He dismissed the falsehoods from his own party as he contended

Walz had a chance when he joined the Democratic presidential ticket, gaining significant attention, but he has stumbled along the way.

“What one person misstates can often reflect a larger issue,” he said. “Walz began as a blank slate, yet his own missteps have defined him as unreliable and unserious.”

Sticks and stones

In his debate with Vance, Walz opened the floor to more scrutiny of his actions while attempting to draw a link between Trump’s divisive rhetoric and the Capitol violence that occurred on January 6, 2021.

“The words of a president hold weight,” Walz emphasized, reiterating: “A president’s words truly matter.”

So far, Walz’s comments don’t seem to be negatively impacting him in national polls. His favorability rating has increased by over 9 percentage points since Harris chose him on August 6, according to averages compiled by ABC News and FiveThirtyEight.

The Harris campaign continues to support Walz, dispatching him to address larger crowds and more media outlets, where questions about the gravity of his words inevitably arise. During a recent appearance on CBS’ 60 Minutes, correspondent Bill Whitaker directly asked Walz about his reliability.

“Yes, I believe I can,” Walz responded. “I admit I can sometimes be a knucklehead, but those close to me know I keep my promises.”

In the interview, Walz disclosed even more about how his speech has played a role during the campaign. When asked if he and Harris had any disagreements, he replied: “She advised me, ‘Tim, you need to be a bit more careful with your phrasing, whatever that may be.'” Laughing, Walz added, “People understand who I am, and they can differentiate between someone expressing genuine emotion or making a mistake versus a habitual liar like Donald Trump.”

During a fundraiser in Sacramento, California, Walz mentioned that his background in teaching sometimes contributes to his candid remarks.

“Being a schoolteacher, my instinct is to just answer the question directly,” he explained to reporters accompanying the vice presidential candidate. “The first thing you’re told in this line of work is: ‘Don’t just answer the question. Pivot to another topic as quickly as you can!'”

Policy over polish

YSL News spoke with voters from both sides, Trump and Harris supporters, who indicated that Walz’s verbal slips aren’t their main concern.

“Everyone has moments of miscommunication; it’s part of public speaking, especially when people are nervous,” noted Andrew Feys, a 21-year-old from Negaunee, Michigan, who intends to cast his first presidential vote for Trump.

Feys believes that Walz’s verbal mishaps make him feel relatable, not less trustworthy. However, he remains focused on policy issues, planning to support the Republican due to concerns like the cost of living and border security, rather than Walz’s occasional slips of the tongue.

“Those types of things wouldn’t eliminate someone from the presidency,” he said. “Trump has also had his fair share of verbal blunders.”

Mary Brabazon, a retired corrections officer from Muncy, Pennsylvania, and a former Trump supporter, shared with YSL News her thoughts on Walz’s gaffes, viewing them as a common issue faced by newcomers to the political spotlight.

“I see him as someone who can be relied upon to get the job done,” she stated.

Brabazon, an independent who favored Nikki Haley during the 2024 Republican primaries, expressed that her focus in the upcoming general election is selecting a candidate who can assist the working class while restoring positivity and order to the White House, even if the candidates aren’t flawless. She hopes policies like those Walz championed in Minnesota, such as paid family and medical leave, influence his approaches if he becomes vice president.

While she advised Walz to be more cautious, Brabazon emphasized that her vote in November will reflect a preference for someone who may occasionally misspeak rather than someone who refuses to acknowledge their mistakes.

“I appreciate when Tim Walz says, ‘I misspoke and this is what I meant,'” she said.