### Tim Walz: The Folksy Ally Struggling for National Visibility

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has charmed voters on the campaign trail, but his national visibility and accuracy in public statements have been lacking. On Wednesday, Walz transitioned from the tense atmosphere of a vice-presidential debate with Senator JD Vance of Ohio to a campaign bus tour across central Pennsylvania.

The contrast between these two settings revealed Walz's comfort zones. After his sometimes uneasy debate performance against Vance, it's clear that Walz prefers engaging with voters in more informal settings. His debate included a recounting of an often-told but inaccurate story about witnessing the Tiananmen Square crackdown, highlighting his tendency for exaggeration.

Walz's appearance on stage was inconsistent. The charismatic Midwesterner, who gained traction in Kamala Harris's campaign by labeling former President Donald Trump and his allies as "weird," struggled when faced with intense scrutiny from determined moderators and a slick opponent.

Despite joining Harris's ticket, Walz has been noticeably absent from national television—a platform where his affable nature was expected to shine. Polls before the debate showed Walz was more popular among voters than Vance, offering a glimpse of potential that has yet to be fully realized.