Philadelphia, PA
CNN
 — 

Tim Walz was within the midst of his interview with Vice President Kamala Harris’ vetting crew when he informed them there was one thing vital they wanted to know.

He doesn’t use a teleprompter, the Minnesota governor stated. He doesn’t even have one, in truth. So if he was the decide, Walz stated, Harris’ crew must get him a teleprompter and train him easy methods to use it.

It was a lighter second, however it was additionally a part of an interview course of with Harris’ crew that Walz aced, a number of sources aware of the assembly informed CNN. The Minnesota governor was upfront about his vulnerabilities, noting he wasn’t from a swing state or a family identify. He additionally stated he was a foul debater.

However Walz made it clear he can be a crew participant.

Requested how he noticed his position as VP, Walz stated he would carry out the job nonetheless Harris needed him to. Requested if he needed to be the final particular person within the room earlier than Harris decided, Walz stated provided that she needed him to be there.

And requested if he had ambitions to run for president himself at some point, Walz stated he didn’t, a degree that sources stated was not misplaced on a crew trying to reduce the potential for any inner drama in a future Harris administration.

“He had a really clear understanding that it was to be a associate, however to help the president, exit and join with America and be that governing associate,” stated Cedric Richmond, a former Louisiana congressman and Biden White Home adviser who was deeply concerned within the choice course of. “It’s not the best of positions, however it’s a vital place.”

The vetting interview  was a key step for Walz to in the end lock up the choice that Harris made after sitting down with the three finalists, together with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, for one-on-one interviews at her residence on Sunday.

“It was a house run,” stated one supply aware of Walz’s assembly with Harris’ vetting crew. “Everybody liked him.”

Past the non-public chemistry Harris and her crew felt towards Walz, individuals aware of the interview course of stated that Walz was additionally somebody Harris felt may entice the sorts of voters that Democrats have misplaced to Donald Trump— voters that Harris might not have the ability to join with on her personal.

“He hunts, he fishes, you wish to have a beer with him,” stated the supply aware of Walz’s assembly. “He’ll play in Michigan, Wisconsin, Western Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina.”

A longtime Democratic operative who has identified Walz for years agreed, saying: “He talks and appears like a variety of the voters we’ve misplaced to Trump.”

By Tuesday, staffers on the Harris marketing campaign headquarters had been already joking in regards to the “Blue Walz,” referencing the important thing midwestern battleground states that they hope he’ll assist her lock up.

Shapiro – who was favored by among the Democratic Get together and anti-Trump Republicans as a extra average choice – didn’t go over as effectively with Harris’ crew throughout his vetting interview, sources aware of the method informed CNN. Whereas Walz got here throughout as deferential and cooperative, Shapiro struck some as overly formidable, with “a variety of questions” about what the position of the VP can be.

And whereas Shapiro did “very effectively” in his in-person assembly with Harris on Sunday, a number of sources stated, Walz was seen as a decide that may include much less drama and palace intrigue – each on the marketing campaign path and, in the event that they win in November, on the White Home.

“It was a hanging distinction” between the 2, stated the supply aware of the assembly.

Walz was an surprising contender to grow to be the No. 2 on the Democratic ticket – he was hardly talked about among the many potential contenders when Joe Biden dropped out somewhat over two weeks in the past. However sources aware of the choice course of described Walz because the walk-on participant who was in the end picked for the crew over the five-star recruits as a result of he was a Midwestern governor who can marketing campaign as a pure on the stump as a fellow “completely satisfied warrior.”

Walz, who was a 24-year Military Nationwide Guard veteran and highschool instructor earlier than coming into politics, introduced a “pleasure and pleasure” to the method that in the end gained Harris and her crew over, stated one other supply.

Walz was the working mate possibility that Harris knew the least — however he gained over the Democratic nominee, in addition to her crew, by making clear he would adapt to her fashion and insurance policies.

Harris had not been anticipating Walz to say he didn’t plan to run for president, a supply aware of her pondering informed CNN. However afterward, as she sat across the similar eating room desk within the Naval Observatory, Walz’s reply caught along with her.

“That confirmed his willingness to say, ‘Look I’m not involved about my picture or my approval ranking or what’s subsequent for me within the subsequent chapter of life. I’m going to remain on this second, be your vp, run by means of partitions, combat for the American individuals and exhibit our values,’” stated Richmond. “That’s a powerful and compelling argument.”

‘Comfy and really pure’

The elevation of Walz was the end result of a exceptional whirlwind, a capstone to a two-week marketing campaign to affix the Democratic ticket – first, with a purpose of catching the eye of the Harris crew and second, to win over the vp herself.

“He was relaxed and really pure,” stated a senior Democratic adviser who was briefed on Walz’s face-to-face interview with Harris. “It was a ‘know-it-when-you-see-it’ kind of factor.”

Whereas a lot of the eye across the vetting course of targeted on the work being executed by former Legal professional Basic Eric Holder and former White Home counsel Dana Remus, the questions past the paperwork and biographical scrubs actually began final Friday with video interviews for the candidates being thought of.

The Zoom calls additionally featured an until-now secret three-person committee: Richmond, former Boston mayor and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.

Richmond has grow to be a prime adviser to Harris. Walsh and Harris grew shut throughout his time within the Biden administration. Cortez Masto was elected the identical yr to the Senate with Harris, however they’d additionally beforehand served as attorneys normal collectively by means of the landmark multistate mortgage settlement that turned a defining second for each their careers within the aftermath of the 2008 monetary disaster.

The three-person group was picked for geographic variety, totally different ability units and background. However most of all, they had been picked as a result of they had been who Harris trusted to assist determine whom she may belief, which many who know her acknowledge is usually the toughest factor for Harris.

Richmond and Walsh, who each went from being elected officers to members of Biden’s administration, had been there to assist reply a query very a lot on Harris’s thoughts after her personal expertise as vp: “She needed to be sure that we may ask questions like, ‘You’re going to go from a principal to a hybrid principal/staffer. Are you able to make that transition?’” in response to one supply aware of the method.

Of the 9 choices vetted, and 6 who met just about with the committee, Walz and Shapiro entered the rushed last weekend because the clear favorites, three individuals concerned within the course of informed CNN. Kelly was included as a 3rd possibility.

Walz was propelled by help from throughout the Democratic Get together – progressive and average factions alike – in a classy marketing campaign guided by among the get together’s most seasoned operatives. He had former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi on his facet – outdated allies from his 12 years in Congress representing a rural Minnesota district – in addition to glowing phrases from former President Barack Obama, who stated in a press release Tuesday of Walz, “He has the values and the integrity to make us proud.”

Obama additionally served as a “sounding board for Vice President Harris to speak by means of how she was excited about it,” stated one senior aide.

As Walz gained traction on-line for his remark that Republicans had been “bizarre,” Harris was watching, too.

“She likes the best way he operates,” stated an individual concerned with the method. “She appreciated the way it turned a factor then. It was humorous, it was pointed, however it wasn’t excessive.”

Whereas Harris and Walz didn’t have a lot of a earlier relationship – a incontrovertible fact that some round Walz fearful is perhaps his downfall within the course of – aides stated Harris grew more and more enthusiastic by how Walz carried himself throughout the course of. A courtesy name between Harris and Walz on July 21, the identical Sunday afternoon Biden stepped apart, sparked a proper vetting course of that in the end led him to the highest of the ranks of finalists.

Alongside the best way, many Democratic leaders believed Shapiro was the frontrunner within the sudden race to grow to be Harris’ working mate. Intensive polling and focus teams carried out by the Harris marketing campaign confirmed no nominal distinction among the many last contenders, however two Democratic advisers near the search course of acknowledged Shapiro, who’s Jewish, had grow to be one thing of a lightning rod for Gaza protests that Harris was not desirous to revisit, a difficulty that’s divided Democrats all through the 2024 marketing campaign.

“No one needed to tear that scab again open,” one of many Democrats stated, talking on situation of anonymity to debate a confidential course of. However different sources near the vetting course of pushed again on the notion that the Gaza protests had something to do with Harris’ determination to select Walz over Shapiro.

In the long run, the larger hurdle for Shapiro was his face-to-face assembly with Harris, the place he posed “very particular” questions in regards to the position of a vp, together with what choices he can be included in making, ought to they win election.

“He was negotiating the job along with her, whereas Walz was saying ‘What can I do to assist?’” stated the Democratic adviser, who added that Shapiro was unquestionably a rising star within the get together however simply didn’t meet the second and forge a snug reference to Harris.

For Walz, the evolution from being seen as a average Democrat – successful a Republican-leaning congressional district in 2006 – to changing into a number one progressive governor impressed Harris and her crew about his enchantment.

Walz’s deferential fashion was additionally an enormous think about his enchantment with Harris, sources stated.

“She needed to be sure that individuals understood there are going to be instances whenever you’ll have nice affect and there are going to be instances when one thing’s occurring and also you’re informed about it on the final minute,” stated one of many individuals concerned within the vetting course of. “She stated, ‘That’s simply the character of the job and you need to be OK with that.’”

Donuts and a teleprompter

Forward of Harris’ three interviews on Sunday with Walz, Shapiro and Kelly, a panel of shut advisers introduced findings and proposals to Harris at her residence on the Naval Observatory.

As they did, different senior marketing campaign employees ready movies and logos and merchandise for the assorted choices. They waited, not figuring out which approach Harris would go. They wrestled with wrapping their minds round how totally different the choices actually had been, and what every would imply for the marketing campaign and for them.

In response to sources aware of the method, Harris was instantly leaning towards Walz after the Sunday conferences. However she felt torn by means of the top.

Harris slept on it Sunday. By Monday, she was quietly closing in on deciding on Walz, informing solely a small group of advisers of the place her pondering stood that night, a supply aware of the matter stated. Harris went to mattress Monday morning with out making any official determination.

Small groups of staffers had been despatched to be on location for every of the ultimate three choices, none of them figuring out once they awoke on Tuesday morning what the day was going to convey.

Speeches for Tuesday evening’s rally in Philadelphia had been written upfront for all of the choices.

When Harris lastly referred to as Tuesday morning, Walz was at dwelling together with his spouse and two kids, alongside together with his sister and brother-in-law. He didn’t reply the primary name that got here by means of that morning as a result of it was from a blocked quantity and he didn’t wish to miss a name from Harris.

She obtained him on the second attempt.

Walz was handed his speech shortly after Harris referred to as to formally inform him he was the decide.  After a small household celebration, Walz introduced donuts to staffers who had been there with him and hopped on a name with a wider group of employees to thank them for his or her work.

After arriving in Philadelphia for the primary joint Harris-Walz rally Tuesday, a supply stated that Walz practiced utilizing the teleprompter forward of taking the stage for his speech.

CNN’s John King, Arlette Saenz and Betsy Klein contributed to this report.