Does Walz actually have rural appeal?

+ can celebrities influence young voters? US Edition - Today's top story: Rural voters don't necessarily love Walz, despite the camo hat and small-town upbringing [View in browser]( US Edition | 21 August 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Inside China’s efforts to become the world leader in AI]( - [Can LA deliver on its promise for a car-free Olympics in 2028?]( - [Democrats look to revive bond with organized labor]( Lead story Two weeks ago, I wrote an email to Nicholas Jacobs, a political scientist at Colby College in Maine. Kamala Harris had just picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, and stereotypes of Midwesterners were all over the news. “If I hear another reference to ‘Midwestern nice,’” I wrote, “I’ll scream.” I wanted Jacobs, who’s the co-author of a book on rural voters, to help readers understand whether Walz held genuine, not imagined, appeal for those voters. Much of the political coverage of Walz seemed to assume that he would be the favorite of rural voters, helping the Democratic ticket win the election. It was all pretty much your typical urban take on … the rest of the country. “At first glance, such analysis – tinged with wishful thinking – [seems self-evident](,” writes Jacobs. “Walz, the governor of Minnesota, was raised in a small, rural town in Nebraska and runs a Midwestern state with a strong rural identity. And it is hard to deny that many rural advocates and writers genuinely feel seen and represented with the choice of Walz – a feeling not felt in quite some time.” But in past elections, Walz hasn’t pulled in large numbers of votes from rural areas of Minnesota. “Walz’s challenge is not merely to present a rural-friendly image,” writes Jacobs. “It’s addressing the deeper issues that motivate rural voters, such as economic insecurity, perceived cultural marginalization and distrust in government.” You can see whether Walz does that tonight, when he addresses the Democratic National Convention. [ [Science from the scientists themselves. Sign up for our weekly science email newsletter.]( ] Naomi Schalit Senior Editor, Politics + Democracy Tim Walz has a rural image, but that doesn’t mean rural America will vote for him. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images [Rural voters don’t necessarily love Walz, despite the camo hat and small-town upbringing]( Nicholas Jacobs, Colby College It takes more than camo hats, hot dish and a rural-friendly image to get the votes of America’s rural residents. 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