Is Kamala Harris second-guessing her decision to pick Tim Walz as her running mate? If she isn’t, she probably should be.
A new poll from Pennsylvania is shedding light on just how much of a misstep that choice was. But first, the top-line result is great news for Donald Trump, showing him tied in a head-to-head race and leading in a five-way matchup (which is more significant). It seems Harris’ momentum has completely stalled, with no visible boost from the DNC.
Bob Casey, the Democrat senator running for re-election in Pennsylvania, only being up by two points is also a significant result for Republicans. Dave McCormick faces a tougher challenge than Mehmet Oz did in 2022 because defeating incumbent senators is historically difficult. The fact that Jon Tester and Joe Manchin have lasted this long is a testament to that. While McCormick remains an underdog, if he can pull off a win, it could provide much-needed security for the GOP’s already promising chances of controlling the Senate.
However, the most surprising part of this poll is actually a hypothetical matchup. When Harris is paired with Josh Shapiro, the popular Democrat governor of Pennsylvania, she not only defeats Trump but does so decisively. Had she chosen Shapiro, she’d be leading by a solid six points, 51 to 45.
Considering how crucial Pennsylvania is to winning the election overall, this decision could cost her the White House. So why did she pick a controversial, baggage-laden candidate like Walz from Minnesota instead of Shapiro? We all know why. There was no logical reason for Harris to choose Walz, a radical figure from a non-swing state. It’s clear she made this choice to appease the more extreme elements in her party. Shapiro, being Jewish, would have been a huge asset to her campaign, but Harris couldn’t risk alienating the radical factions within her base.
Republicans are thrilled with her decision. Even though Harris saw an initial surge in support (which has now stalled and started to reverse), the moment she chose Walz was the moment she ensured this race would remain a toss-up at best. Does America really want someone with that level of decision-making ability as President of the United States?
