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Kamala Harris, Tim Walz
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz held their first rally as a ticket in Philadelphia. Matt Rourke/AP

Vibes, Rapport and a Question of Ambition: How Tim Walz Beat Out Josh Shapiro for VP

Kamala Harris indicated early that she was leaning toward picking the Minnesota governor over the party’s rising star in Pennsylvania.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz held their first rally as a ticket in Philadelphia. Matt Rourke/AP

PHILADELPHIA — When the vice president finished her only round of in-person interviews with the vice presidential candidates, it was apparent to advisers that she was favoring Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

“It was clear that, after the interviews had concluded, she was leaning towards Walz for a host of reasons, probably chief among them rapport,” one person close to the vice president and involved in the process said. “But he was also clear-eyed on the vision.”

Another source familiar with the discussions called Walz the “vibey” pick. The pair has only met a few times, once at an abortion clinic, and they got along. Walz wasn’t solely picked because of this personal connection, but that “rapport” heavily influenced the decision.