Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yesterday, as you heard Brenda explain in the newscast there
talking about the teacher pay in Colorado, that was an
opportunity where Governor Polis also made a comment on Waltz,
saying that he really enjoyed his time working with him
in about the decade that.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
They served in Congress and joining us now somebody who
understands these from a different perspective because he's been part
of a campaign and understands what it's like to vet
and pick these candidates. Political consultant, producer of Showtimes, the Circus,
and a colorad in de Boot. It's Mark McKinnon. Mark
always appreciate your carving out some time with us this morning.
Your first reaction when you saw that Kamala Harris picked
(00:34):
Tim Walls.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Well, my very first reaction was a little disappointment because
I really liked the Josh Shapiro idea, just because Pennsylvania
is such a key state. Harris have to win Pennsylvania
to win, so I just that was a very political pick.
But the more I've seen Tim Waltz, the more I
warm up to the guy. I mean, he is just
like America's coach. And if you saw the beginning of
(01:00):
his speech, he talked about bringing the joy back, and
don't underestimate the power of joy in this election. The
American voters, I think, are so tired of just depressing, ugly,
mean politics, and there's just a joyful sense of this
guy because he's just he's so authentic, he's a coach,
(01:21):
he's a veteran, he's just you know, he's not a
Dei Higher, He's an Rai Higher. And I, you know,
I think that, you know, so, I think it's a
really good pick. I do think it's it gives the
Republicans some ammunition to make the case that it's a
very progressive, lefty ticket because he's got that in his
(01:44):
record as governor. But listen, at the end of the day,
the most important thing for Harris's and was, you know,
was the chemistry. And they have great chemistry. And I
think that I think it's going to be a pretty
powerful ticket.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Mark you bring up governorship as a lot of analysts
were actually expecting it to be him. Do you think
this was a last ditch effort or a last moment
where she went with Waltz? Was this always in the works?
Do you think he brings something more than Shapiro doesn't well.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
It's being reported that they did a lot of internal
polling and determined that none of the three finalists on
their list would really make a difference, even Shapiro in Pennsylvania,
that it was really kind of a wash. Now, listen,
at the end of the day, I think if we
get through this election and they lose the election because
(02:36):
they lost Pennsylvania, I think they may really kick themselves
about Shapiro. And I don't know. Again, if you saw
the speech last night, Shapiro kind of introduced them and
did a twenty minute blockbuster speech and really just gave
you chills about Oh man, it would have been so
great to have him on the ticket. But listen, I
think Waltz again, he's kind of like America's coach, and
(02:59):
you know, if they can get out there and define
him for his lifestyle more than his politics, and that's
going to be the fight. And it doesn't matter who's
going to be successful, the Democrats to make him sort
of America's coach or a Republicans effort to make him
you know, just you know, left of Harris and Mark.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
That's kind of the point. We always talk about the
value of whether or not a VP matters much at all,
And I reference your personal experience. My thoughts are with
Dick Cheney. He was probably brought into and you tell
me better, obviously into W's fold because he had some
foreign policy gravitas. I think Joe Biden in many ways
the same way for Barack Obama. Maybe Sarah Palin again
from your purview, working with the late John McCain, bringing
(03:40):
in kind of a folksy image is maybe that's what
they're trying to do. With Tim Watts, He's a guy
grew up and born in Nebraska, Minnesota, went to small,
you know, not brand named colleges the more just seems
like a regular average guy on the ticket.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
I think that's right. I don't know that a VP
will make a difference, but it will give you reassurance.
So for people that might have thought, I don't know,
you know, this is kind of a stretch for me.
With Harris Walt just gives them a sense of confidence
and reassurance that you know, listen, this guy is just
a Middle America guy that's like your your favorite grandfather,
(04:17):
your favorite you know uncle.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
And so I think that that's that's the case, and
you know, like Cheney. You know again Cheney, I was,
you know with Bush then I thought he should have
picked John McCain. But but he brought balance in the
in the as you said, in the foreign policy realm,
and also just had chemistry. So again I say, you know,
I know again from the reporting that in the interviews
(04:41):
she just had great chemistry with Waltz and and not
so great chemistry with Shapiro and I And I think
that makes a difference. So listen, when you net it
all out, I I do think that people are going
to make a decision about the top of the ticket.
And it's just you know, listen, you think about a
month ago and what this race looked like and it
was so depressing. At least it's interesting. At least we
(05:01):
got a little drama, and I think people are actually
going to tune in now.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
It's definitely interesting, to say the least mark when we're
looking at this on both sides. I know you say
top of the ticket is the top priority, But if
we did have the opportunity for a VP debate, what
do you think it would look like? Is that even possible?
And who do you think.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Would come out on top?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Oh, I think it's more than possible. I think it's probable.
I mean, there has always been a VP debate, and
I think that's going to be really interesting to watch.
The interesting contrast here is that, you know, the one
things that Republicans campaign against all the time and just
can't stand is just this notion of elitism. And the
(05:42):
elite candidate in this case is the guy who went
to Yale, which is JD. Vance. And on the other
side you have Walts, who's a much more kind of
mainstream Middle America. And I think that's the fight you'll
see in the VP debate is Walt's trying to paint
trying to paint Advances as an elite, out of touch guy,
(06:02):
where the Advance will certainly try and paint Wall Says
as out of touch and his ideology.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Got to tell you, Mark, I'm missing the circus right now,
totally missing it. I wish we had you guys on.
I'd be watching and consuming it every time that she
had an episode with events like this. Thanks so much
for coming on with us.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Jud Yeah, yeah, well thanks keep kicking it out there, folks.
Appreciate you having me on.
Yesterday, as you heard Brenda explain in the newscast there
talking about the teacher pay in Colorado, that was an
opportunity where Governor Polis also made a comment on Waltz,
saying that he really enjoyed his time working with him
in about the decade that.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
They served in Congress and joining us now somebody who
understands these from a different perspective because he's been part
of a campaign and understands what it's like to vet
and pick these candidates. Political consultant, producer of Showtimes, the Circus,
and a colorad in de Boot. It's Mark McKinnon. Mark
always appreciate your carving out some time with us this morning.
Your first reaction when you saw that Kamala Harris picked
(00:34):
Tim Walls.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Well, my very first reaction was a little disappointment because
I really liked the Josh Shapiro idea, just because Pennsylvania
is such a key state. Harris have to win Pennsylvania
to win, so I just that was a very political pick.
But the more I've seen Tim Waltz, the more I
warm up to the guy. I mean, he is just
like America's coach. And if you saw the beginning of
(01:00):
his speech, he talked about bringing the joy back, and
don't underestimate the power of joy in this election. The
American voters, I think, are so tired of just depressing, ugly,
mean politics, and there's just a joyful sense of this
guy because he's just he's so authentic, he's a coach,
(01:21):
he's a veteran, he's just you know, he's not a
Dei Higher, He's an Rai Higher. And I, you know,
I think that, you know, so, I think it's a
really good pick. I do think it's it gives the
Republicans some ammunition to make the case that it's a
very progressive, lefty ticket because he's got that in his
(01:44):
record as governor. But listen, at the end of the day,
the most important thing for Harris's and was, you know,
was the chemistry. And they have great chemistry. And I
think that I think it's going to be a pretty
powerful ticket.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Mark you bring up governorship as a lot of analysts
were actually expecting it to be him. Do you think
this was a last ditch effort or a last moment
where she went with Waltz? Was this always in the works?
Do you think he brings something more than Shapiro doesn't well.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
It's being reported that they did a lot of internal
polling and determined that none of the three finalists on
their list would really make a difference, even Shapiro in Pennsylvania,
that it was really kind of a wash. Now, listen,
at the end of the day, I think if we
get through this election and they lose the election because
(02:36):
they lost Pennsylvania, I think they may really kick themselves
about Shapiro. And I don't know. Again, if you saw
the speech last night, Shapiro kind of introduced them and
did a twenty minute blockbuster speech and really just gave
you chills about Oh man, it would have been so
great to have him on the ticket. But listen, I
think Waltz again, he's kind of like America's coach, and
(02:59):
you know, if they can get out there and define
him for his lifestyle more than his politics, and that's
going to be the fight. And it doesn't matter who's
going to be successful, the Democrats to make him sort
of America's coach or a Republicans effort to make him
you know, just you know, left of Harris and Mark.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
That's kind of the point. We always talk about the
value of whether or not a VP matters much at all,
And I reference your personal experience. My thoughts are with
Dick Cheney. He was probably brought into and you tell
me better, obviously into W's fold because he had some
foreign policy gravitas. I think Joe Biden in many ways
the same way for Barack Obama. Maybe Sarah Palin again
from your purview, working with the late John McCain, bringing
(03:40):
in kind of a folksy image is maybe that's what
they're trying to do. With Tim Watts, He's a guy
grew up and born in Nebraska, Minnesota, went to small,
you know, not brand named colleges the more just seems
like a regular average guy on the ticket.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
I think that's right. I don't know that a VP
will make a difference, but it will give you reassurance.
So for people that might have thought, I don't know,
you know, this is kind of a stretch for me.
With Harris Walt just gives them a sense of confidence
and reassurance that you know, listen, this guy is just
a Middle America guy that's like your your favorite grandfather,
(04:17):
your favorite you know uncle.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
And so I think that that's that's the case, and
you know, like Cheney. You know again Cheney, I was,
you know with Bush then I thought he should have
picked John McCain. But but he brought balance in the
in the as you said, in the foreign policy realm,
and also just had chemistry. So again I say, you know,
I know again from the reporting that in the interviews
(04:41):
she just had great chemistry with Waltz and and not
so great chemistry with Shapiro and I And I think
that makes a difference. So listen, when you net it
all out, I I do think that people are going
to make a decision about the top of the ticket.
And it's just you know, listen, you think about a
month ago and what this race looked like and it
was so depressing. At least it's interesting. At least we
(05:01):
got a little drama, and I think people are actually
going to tune in now.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
It's definitely interesting, to say the least mark when we're
looking at this on both sides. I know you say
top of the ticket is the top priority, But if
we did have the opportunity for a VP debate, what
do you think it would look like? Is that even possible?
And who do you think.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Would come out on top?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Oh, I think it's more than possible. I think it's probable.
I mean, there has always been a VP debate, and
I think that's going to be really interesting to watch.
The interesting contrast here is that, you know, the one
things that Republicans campaign against all the time and just
can't stand is just this notion of elitism. And the
(05:42):
elite candidate in this case is the guy who went
to Yale, which is JD. Vance. And on the other
side you have Walts, who's a much more kind of
mainstream Middle America. And I think that's the fight you'll
see in the VP debate is Walt's trying to paint
trying to paint Advances as an elite, out of touch guy,
(06:02):
where the Advance will certainly try and paint Wall Says
as out of touch and his ideology.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
Got to tell you, Mark, I'm missing the circus right now,
totally missing it. I wish we had you guys on.
I'd be watching and consuming it every time that she
had an episode with events like this. Thanks so much
for coming on with us.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Jud Yeah, yeah, well thanks keep kicking it out there, folks.
Appreciate you having me on.
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