Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s recent media blitz, aimed at connecting with Midwestern men, took a turn for the awkward over the weekend when he attempted to go pheasant hunting—seemingly in an effort to show off his “rural cred.” Unfortunately for Walz, the trip didn’t exactly go as planned, as reported by The Minnesota Star Tribune. Dressed in blaze orange and armed with a Beretta shotgun, Walz joined a hunting party but failed to fire a single shot. His big moment? A Dick Cheney joke about the former vice president’s infamous hunting mishap, but the punchline fell flat—especially as Walz struggled with the very basics of loading his shotgun.
The governor’s attempt to resonate with rural voters, particularly men, is reminiscent of John Kerry’s ill-fated 2004 hunting stunt, and it’s clear Walz didn’t fare much better. For someone trying to bridge the gap with this demographic, his inability to handle a firearm, despite claiming ownership of it, didn’t exactly inspire confidence. The situation could have been a humorous anecdote, but for Walz and the Harris-Walz campaign, it highlights a deeper problem—one of authenticity.
Tim Walz brought his own gun, a beretta, to hunt for pheasants, he tells me. “
I bought it when I was we shooting a lot of trap,” the Minnesota governor said. pic.twitter.com/K1zGkWYEPY
— Shawna Mizelle (@shawnamizelle) October 12, 2024
On the national front, the Democratic ticket has been facing significant challenges, and events like this only seem to widen the gap between their message and their audience. Walz’s gun mishap might seem minor, but it plays into a broader narrative of a campaign out of touch with the voters it’s trying to woo. And the gaffes aren’t just Walz’s problem—Harris has had her share of criticism as well. With recent controversies around edited interviews and rigged audiences, her public appearances have been under scrutiny.
Harris’s Sunday appearance in Greenville, North Carolina, where she spoke at the Koinonia Christian Center, is another example of the campaign’s struggles to connect meaningfully. Her speech, meant to focus on hurricane relief and misinformation, veered into vague accusations about political opponents spreading “disinformation.” Harris’s sermon-like delivery, complete with biblical references, felt disjointed and out of place, especially when juxtaposed with her more political jabs. Critics pounced, accusing her of hypocrisy—playing politics while condemning others for doing the same.
Harris quoted scripture, referencing Paul’s letter to the Galatians: “God calls us not to become weary of doing good.” But the real eye-roller came when she delivered a line that left many scratching their heads: “What we see is so hard to see that we lose faith or a vision of those things we cannot see but must know.” Even with teleprompters, Harris’s delivery fell flat, leaving listeners wondering what, if anything, she was trying to convey.
KAMALA: “What we see is so hard to see that we lose faith or a vision of those things we cannot see but must know.” 🤔 pic.twitter.com/xWFe3CEzm9
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 13, 2024
The Harris-Walz campaign, at this point, seems to be floundering in its attempts to connect with voters. Events like Walz’s hunting trip and Harris’s Greenville appearance are indicative of a campaign that can’t seem to find its footing. While Harris tries to preach about unity and good deeds, her rhetoric often feels hollow, especially when paired with divisive attacks on her critics.
