I Can Code-Talk to White Guys Watching Football”: Tim Walz Reveals Why Kamala Harris Picked Him—And Why He’s NOT Running in 2028
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the folksy former vice presidential nominee who once joked he could “fight most Trump supporters,” dished on the 2024 campaign’s highs and lows at a Harvard Kennedy School forum Monday—while firmly shutting down a 2028 White House bid of his own.
So why did Kamala Harris tap him as her running mate?
“I could code-talk to White guys watching football, fixing their truck,” Walz told the crowd, flashing a grin. “I put them at ease.”
The self-described “knucklehead” said he served as the Democratic ticket’s “permission structure” for rural White men—a voting bloc that’s increasingly drifted toward the GOP. But when pressed on why he didn’t take that pitch to cable news, Walz quipped: “I’ll give you pretty good stuff, but I’ll also give you 10% problematic.”
Walz’s 2028 Prediction: Democrats Must “Collectively Run” Now
Despite speculation, Walz ruled out a 2028 presidential run, insisting Democrats must “build infrastructure now” before picking a nominee. “By the time we get to 2028, we’re ready,” he said—though he admitted, “We would have won” in 2024 if the party had done more media outreach.
His solution? “There’s room for Gavin Newsom’s podcast and Bernie Sanders’ rallies.”
Indeed, Newsom—a likely 2028 contender—has courted controversy by hosting Trump allies like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon on his new podcast. Meanwhile, Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are packing stadiums on their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, signaling a brewing battle for the party’s future.
“Tampon Tim” Can’t Shake the Nickname—Or GOP Attacks
But Walz hasn’t escaped his own baggage. Conservatives still mock him as “Tampon Tim” for a Minnesota law providing free menstrual products in school bathrooms (including boys’ rooms). And his town halls have drawn protests—from veterans accusing him of “stolen valor” to Trump backers ejected from events.
Reflecting on Democratic losses, Walz admitted: “We win on issues, we win on competency… but we lose the message, and we lose power.”
Walz’s Warning: “Trump Will Fill the Void”
With Trump celebrating 100 days back in office, Walz warned Democrats: “If you leave a void, Donald Trump will fill it.” Then, with dark humor: “If I ever had 100 days to live, I’d spend it in the Trump administration—because it’s like a lifetime.”
His challenge to the crowd? “It’s been 100 days of destruction. You think we can survive 550 more? That’s how long until the midterms.”
As Walz’s “listening tour” rolls on, one thing’s clear: Democrats are searching for a message—and a messenger—before 2028. And whether he likes it or not, “Tampon Tim” is still in the mix.
