| | | | |  | | By Lauren Egan, Eli Stokols and Ben Johansen | Welcome to POLITICO’s West Wing Playbook, your guide to the people and power centers in the Biden administration. Send tips | Subscribe here | Email Eli | Email Lauren Attorney ERIC HOLDER had finished the vetting on a tight schedule. The candidate had whittled the potential running mates down to a final group that included one lawmaker from a critical swing state and another from a blue state who brought a more affable personality and a battle-tested, blue-collar appeal. The candidate — BARACK OBAMA — took his time mulling it over, telling aides it was important to visualize who he could truly see by his side at various moments. And then he picked JOE BIDEN over then-Virginia Gov. TIM KAINE. “The decision had been difficult, but Barack was excited about his pick. More than anything, he felt Biden would be a trusted adviser during tough moments after the election, someone who would always give his unvarnished opinion,” DAVID PLOUFFE, Obama’s 2008 campaign manager, wrote in his memoir, “The Audacity to Win.” Over the last couple of weeks, Plouffe and Holder, as well as other veterans of Obama’s presidential runs, were involved in another intense — and unusually condensed — vetting and selection process as Vice President KAMALA HARRIS honed in on who she was going to want at her side over the final three months of the campaign, and, potentially, the next four years in the White House. And her choice of Minnesota Gov. TIM WALZ, a virtual unknown before this hurried veepstakes process saw him catch fire online with his plainspoken and very Midwestern responses, looks and feels a lot like Obama’s tapping of Biden 16 years ago. As Plouffe writes in his book, Biden, then 65, came across as a guy who was comfortable in his own skin. During a get-to-know-you meeting that summer, Plouffe recalled barely being able to get a word in as Biden, perched on the deck of his sister’s pool, monologued for 20 minutes. “It confirmed what we suspected: this dog could not be taught new tricks. But the conversation also confirmed our positive assumptions: his firm grasp of issues, his blue-collar sensibilities, and the fact that while he would readily accept the VP slot if offered, he was not pining for it,” Plouffe wrote. And picking him would be a “capstone to his storied career.” Walz left a similar impression on Harris and her top aides, based on some initial reporting by our colleagues EUGENE DANIELS, ELENA SCHNEIDER, HOLLY OTTERBEIN and CHRIS CADELAGO. Democrats were quick to pick up on Walz’s sweeping but simple characterization of the GOP ticket as “weird,” first uttered in a “Morning Joe” interview at the beginning of the veepstakes and, within a week, echoed by Harris herself on the stump. In private meetings, aides and Harris herself appreciated Walz’s sincerity as well as a resume that complemented hers. And perhaps unlike other potential running mates with clearer presidential ambitions — namely Pennsylvania Gov. JOSH SHAPIRO — the 60-year-old seemed like a reliable governing partner. Harris’ team was willing to overlook some of the same hangups that Plouffe and the Obama team had about the other 2008 VP contenders. Plouffe wrote that given Kaine was not yet a senator, there “was no great way to explain putting someone with no foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency.” And Plouffe recalled some reservations in the Obama camp that Sen. EVAN BAYH (D-Ind.), another VP finalist, was too “boring” and clearly the “safest pick.” The affection for Walz online, as photos and videos surface of him hugging schoolkids, riding roller coasters or talking about replacing parts on his car, is even somewhat reminiscent of the internet’s past affection for a younger Biden, whose aviator-wearing, Corvette-driving persona — and comfort in a playing a supporting role — made him a cult-like figure for the Democratic base. That’s Walz at the moment: a running mate chosen in large part as much for his experience as for his vibe and unaffected charisma. Just weeks after Biden dropped off the ticket, Walz has restored to it a personality profile and appeal, albeit a full generation younger, that is very similar to the president's. MESSAGE US — Are you TIM WALZ? We want to hear from you. And we’ll keep you anonymous! Email us at westwingtips@politico.com. DNC COUNTDOWN: Are you headed to the 2024 Democratic convention in Chicago? Join POLITICO for live, in-person conversations with the Democratic Party’s biggest newsmakers. Sign up here to get notified once registration opens. Did someone forward this email to you? Subscribe here!
| | | | During unprecedented times, POLITICO Pro Analysis gives you the insights you need to focus your policy strategy. Live briefings, policy trackers, and and people intelligence secures your seat at the table. Learn more. | | | | | | | | | As of 2018, which president is the most name-dropped in music history? (Answer at bottom.)
| | THE ROLLOUT: The Liacouras Center at Philadelphia's Temple University has been jam-packed all afternoon ahead of the first rally featuring Harris and Walz, kicking off a week-long swing state blitz. The candidates are set to speak around 5:30 p.m. eastern, after a number of opening speakers, including Shapiro. The campaign distributed freshly-printed Harris-Walz signs and rally light-up bracelets. Earlier in the afternoon, Harris posted a video of her making the call this morning to Walz asking him to be her running mate, and Walz posted a 90-second self-narrated bio video. CHECK OUT MR. POPULAR OVER HERE: Tim Walz has brought in a broad swath of support across the Democratic Party, from heavy hitters like Barack Obama and HILLARY CLINTON, to progressives like Rep. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-N.Y.) and Rep. ILHAN OMAR (D-Minn.), to moderate Sen. JOE MANCHIN (I-W.Va.), who said he can “think of no one better than Governor Walz to help bring our country closer together.” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. MARK KELLY, two other VP finalists, pledged their full backing behind the Harris-Walz ticket. BUT ALSO, LOTS OF SECOND GUESSING: Some key members of the pundit class were clear about their frustrations over Harris bypassing Shapiro. Reacting to the news that Walz was the pick, “Morning Joe” host JOE SCARBOROUGH was blunt: “People have looked at him as the safe pick. I would disagree. This opens up a number of issues for the Democratic ticket to now defend.” The Bulwark’s SARAH LONGWELL also lamented Harris passing over Shapiro, who she said held more appeal to center-right voters. Democrats, she said, tend to have “a cartoon version” of what appeals to Republicans and may be overestimating the former football coach’s charm. “It’s not that I think Walz is the bad pick. It’s that there was a really good pick available and that they were afraid of their left flank, afraid of ruining the mojo.” NBC’s STEVE KORNACKI pointed out that Walz didn’t do all that well with blue-collar voters in 2022. Some center-right political writers also weighed in, with The Atlantic’s TIM ALBERTA noting how much DONALD TRUMP’s team didn’t want Shapiro on the ticket. And New York Mag’s JONATHAN CHAIT questioned in a new piece whether Harris “understands the assignment,” which is peeling off voters who don’t like Trump but fear she’s too liberal. “She is in a toss-up environment, and every inch counts,” Chait wrote. “Does Walz help her gain those inches? I don’t believe he does.” FANCAM TIME: The Kamala HQ TikTok was quick to roll out its first Tim Walz edit, which we’re sure will be one of many to come. The video features clips of him greeting Minnesotans, feeding a baby cow and meeting with the Minnesota Vikings. ABOUT THAT DEAD BEAR … While the Harris campaign is off to a scorching start, independent candidate ROBERT F. KENNEDY is dealing with the fallout of his own admission to ROSEANNE BARR, of all people, that he put a dead bear cub in Central Park 10 years ago. Now, New York City comptroller BRAD LANDER is demanding that Kennedy “promptly send the City of New York what he owes for his ursine exploits.” Lander’s office did the math on how much he owes, and it adds up to over $23,000.
| | HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW? Sure enough, ending his reelection bid has improved the country's feelings about President Biden. According to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist College survey released on Tuesday, Biden's approval rating is now 46 percent, the highest it's been since February of 2023. POTUS CONGRATULATES THE NEW TICKET: Biden and Harris spoke by phone on Tuesday morning prior to her official announcement, deputy press secretary EMILIE SIMONS said. Then Biden placed a call to Walz to congratulate him as well, Simons said. OFFICE SWAP: Senior adviser ANITA DUNN spent Tuesday clearing out her second floor office (and meeting with various administration officials seeking career advice). Her final day in the West Wing was like many others in that she arrived with homemade baked goods. Dunn’s chief of staff JORDAN FINKELSTEIN, who is also departing, used the main distro list one final time to alert White House staff about a chocolate banana Bundt cake, which was gone before noon. Dunn, who is headed to the pro-Harris super PAC Future Forward, is leaving her office to MIKE DONILON, who is returning from a stint on the campaign. WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS YOU TO READ: This piece by NYT’s ANA SWANSON and MADELEINE NGO, who report that the five largest chipmakers in the world have all promised to build plants in the U.S. On Tuesday, the Biden administration announced it would award $450 million in grants to a South Korean chipmaker, SK Hynix, to help build a new chip facility in Indiana, which officials describe as a milestone in rebuilding the U.S. semiconductor manufacturing industry. Assistant press secretary ROBYN PATTERSON shared the piece on X. WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO READ: This piece by our MEGAN MESSERLY, ADAM CANCRYN and Elena Schneider, who report that despite overwhelming enthusiasm for the Harris campaign — which was only amplified after Tim Walz was tapped as her running mate — Monday’s stock market crash proved the honeymoon can’t last forever. The global stock market tumbles were a shift from the cooling inflation and growth economists had been heralding in recent weeks. And as the trio writes, it’s a reminder to Democrats that public wariness over the economy could hurt the campaign. WILLIAM OWEN, a DNC member from Tennessee, called the market slide a “tremendously huge problem” for the campaign, sending campaign and party officials an email Friday calling for President Biden or Harris to urge the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. He then followed up again after seeing the futures on Monday. Still, officials and others close to the Biden administration are not panicking, arguing that much of the day’s decline was driven by an unwinding of investments in Japanese markets tied to currency movements — not economic conditions closer to home. WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: PBS’ “Frontline” has a documentary out tonight titled Biden’s Decision, detailing President Biden’s painful decision to step aside, as well as the 50-year political veteran’s rise to the presidency. Produced and directed by MICHAEL KIRK, the two-hour documentary will air on PBS at 9 p.m. Eastern. MARCUS SEMIEN, HELLO! The 2023 World Series champs Texas Rangers will visit the White House on Thursday to celebrate their first win in franchise history, AP’s DARLENE SUPERVILLE reports. The Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games last fall to clinch the championship. It’s the fourth visit to the White House for Rangers manager BRUCE BOCHY, who also managed the San Francisco Giants during their “even-year” run in the early 2010s.
| | WTF, TATTE: Is it just us, or is the air conditioning at Tatte out of control? The frigid temperatures are making it virtually impossible to get any work done at the downtown D.C. dining staple. No wonder all the White House aides we saw here today took their food to go (we know your schedules are significantly lighter than they were a month ago and you didn’t actually have to get back to your desk). Our fingers almost froze off writing this newsletter. Not a joke. We will be migrating back to Teaism until Tatte management can address the issue. NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE SMART BREVITY: Axios laid off 50 employees across the company on Tuesday, NYT’s KATIE ROBERTSON reports. In a note to staff, Axios CEO JIM VANDEHEI said (in smart brevity format) that the layoffs are because of “changes in the media business.” For what it's worth, telling 50 people that they’re losing their jobs by leading with “Why it Matters” is quite glib.
| | SOME GOOD NEWS FOR THOSE PESKY WEEDS: The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday issued an emergency order suspending all uses of a weedkiller linked to serious health risks for unborn babies, a move not seen for nearly four decades, NYT’s HIROKO TABUCHI reports. The pesticide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate, also known as DCPA or Dacthal, is used on crops such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and onions. Fetuses exposed to the pesticide could suffer from low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased I.Q. and impaired motor skills later in life, the EPA said. “DCPA is so dangerous that it needs to be removed from the market immediately,” MICHAL FREEDHOFF, the EPA assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety, said in a statement.
| | Tim Walz’s policy positions: A guide to the VP pick’s record on Democrats’ priorities (POLITICO Staff) Five faith facts about Harris pick Tim Walz, a ‘Minnesota Lutheran’ Dad (Religion News Service’s Jack Jenkins) Kamala Harris Has a Scranton Problem (NOTUS' Katherine Swartz) Seventy Miles in Hell (The Atlantic’s Caitlin Dickerson)
| | | We feel compelled to share some stories about Harris’ new running mate. While teaching geography at Mankato West High School in Minnesota, Tim Walz coached the struggling varsity football team to a comeback story made for an early 2000s football drama. When the soon-to-be congressman was brought in, the team had come off an 0-27 season. Three years later, he led them to a state title. During Walz’s first year at Mankato, a group of teachers gave him freshman-year treatment, playing a lighthearted prank on him. Led by longtime teacher KIM HERMER, the group printed out a fake gift certificate for a free turkey — a supposed welcome gift that he could collect at the local grocery store. “He went down there and left with a free turkey,” Hermer recalled. How did he pull that off? “I have no idea,” she said. “That’s just Tim Walz.” Notably, he’s also a huge Diet Mountain Dew fan, which is ... a choice. And he seems to have gained the attention of the brats.
| | According to Billboard, President Barack Obama has the most song mentions of all the former presidents. Obama clocked in at no. 1 with 309 mentions, as of 2018. In second place was GEORGE W. BUSH, who had less than half of Obama’s mentions at 116. And just below him at third was BILL CLINTON with 105. A CALL OUT! Do you think you have a harder trivia question? Send us your best one about the presidents, with a citation or sourcing, and we may feature it! Edited by Steve Shepard and Rishika Dugyala.
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