Minnesota Governor and Vice Presidential-hopeful Tim Walz is a bona fide automobile man. His teal 1979 Worldwide Harvester Scout II has type of grow to be an icon of the Harris-Walz marketing campaign, and it reinforces his complete “small-town Midwest dad” vibe. Because it seems, that outdated truck, what it represents and Walz’s DIY perspective are paying dividends with voters. The Los Angeles Occasions explains:
The selection impresses folks like Brandon Ray, a 48-year-old fellow Scout II proprietor from Phoenix. As Ray tells it, he’d simply gone by means of a divorce 15 years in the past when a “bad-ass” yellow Scout II caught his eye. The SUV bore two decals: One stated, “Face your fears,” the opposite, “Reside your dream.” He purchased the Scout.
“It did what it stated it was gonna do,” Ray stated. “I confronted my fears and lived a few of my desires in that truck.”
Information that Walz owns a 1979 Scout II got here as a shock to Ray. “I simply don’t image a blue man driving a f— Scout,” he stated, referencing Walz’s Democratic affiliation.
After all, being into vehicles wouldn’t be something new for the Democratic ticket. Quite famously, President Joe Biden has a inexperienced 1967 Chevy Corvette convertible that he has cherished for years. It’s good to see that pattern proceed.
This automobile fanatic persona isn’t something new for Walz, both. He’s lengthy been speaking about, taking a look at and dealing on vehicles, in response to the LA Occasions.
Amid Walz’s whirlwind journey to the nationwide political stage, his automobile credentials have grow to be a part of his story. Notably, a 2018 video of Walz admonishing Ford over a low-quality headlight harness has resurfaced to the delight of gearheads.
The teacher-turned-Minnesota governor wrenches on vehicles and goes to basic auto reveals, too. However the obvious a part of his pistons-and-pushrods persona is his Scout.
For years, Walz, 60, has taken to social media to share pictures of his Scout, which is painted an arresting glacier blue and sports activities a license plate that reads “ONE MN,” an obvious reference to his “One Minnesota” political slogan. Of the numerous American classics nonetheless roaming the roads, the Scout is one imbued with specific that means.
If there’s one demographic Walz will pull in for Harris’ presidential marketing campaign, it’s Scout homeowners. They love this man, in response to the Los Angeles Occasions.
“Anybody who needs to take care of and preserve a ’79 Scout will not be your common particular person,” stated Gary Brown, an Orange County software program engineer who has restored and offered about 10 Scouts over three a long time. “It takes somebody with a retro or considerably older mindset … [who] is aware of easy methods to tinker.”
“I like guys like that — guys who can sort things,” he stated.
As for Ray, who’s promoting one other Scout — a uncommon 1978 model priced at $59,999 — he didn’t wish to speak politics, which he known as “a tricky matter.”
However, in a nod to the unifying energy of vehicles, Ray imagined a visit he and Walz would possibly take into the wilds of the Southwest: “Possibly he and I can exit within the dunes one among today?”
I do know it most likely received’t depend for a lot, however courting truck homeowners away from Republicans may make some type of distinction.
When Ray expressed shock over Walz’s possession of a 4×4, he was tapping right into a stereotype: Vans are for Republicans. It’s a notion that former President Trump has leaned into, singing the praises of beefy American rides, even saying in 2019, “I really like vans of all sorts.”
“Even after I was a bit of boy at 4 years outdated my mom would say, ‘You’re keen on vans,’” Trump continued. “I do. I all the time beloved vans.”
Time will inform if this stuff have any actual impression on Trump voters. I’m not so certain, however hey, what do I do know?
