Minnesota Governor and Vice Presidential-hopeful Tim Walz is a bona fide automotive man. His teal 1979 Worldwide Harvester Scout II has type of turn into an icon of the Harris-Walz marketing campaign, and it reinforces his complete “small-town Midwest dad” vibe. Because it seems, that previous truck, what it represents and Walz’s DIY perspective are paying dividends with voters. The Los Angeles Occasions explains:
The selection impresses individuals like Brandon Ray, a 48-year-old fellow Scout II proprietor from Phoenix. As Ray tells it, he’d simply gone via a divorce 15 years in the past when a “bad-ass” yellow Scout II caught his eye. The SUV bore two decals: One mentioned, “Face your fears,” the opposite, “Dwell your dream.” He purchased the Scout.
“It did what it mentioned it was gonna do,” Ray mentioned. “I confronted my fears and lived a few of my goals 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 mentioned, referencing Walz’s Democratic affiliation.
In fact, being into vehicles wouldn’t be something new for the Democratic ticket. Relatively famously, President Joe Biden has a inexperienced 1967 Chevy Corvette convertible that he has cherished for years. It’s good to see that development proceed.
This automotive fanatic persona isn’t something new for Walz, both. He’s lengthy been speaking about, and dealing on vehicles, based on the LA Occasions.
Amid Walz’s whirlwind journey to the nationwide political stage, his automotive credentials have turn into 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 images 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 house owners. They love this man, based on the Los Angeles Occasions.
“Anybody who needs to take care of and maintain a ’79 Scout just isn’t your common particular person,” mentioned Gary Brown, an Orange County software program engineer who has restored and bought about 10 Scouts over three many years. “It takes somebody with a retro or considerably older mindset … [who] is aware of tips on how to tinker.”
“I like guys like that — guys who can make things better,” he mentioned.
As for Ray, who’s promoting one other Scout — a uncommon 1978 model priced at $59,999 — he didn’t need to discuss politics, which he referred to as “a troublesome subject.”
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 in every of lately?”
I do know it most likely gained’t depend for a lot, however courting truck house owners 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 vehicles of every type.”
“Even once I was a bit of boy at 4 years previous my mom would say, ‘You like vehicles,’” Trump continued. “I do. I at all times liked vehicles.”
Time will inform if these items have any actual affect on Trump voters. I’m not so positive, however hey, what do I do know?
