So much for tacking to the center. One can’t help but think Kamala Harris caved to the progressive wing of the party by picking Minnesota’s Tim Walz, who, as the NYT points out, “emerged from a field of candidates who had better name recognition and more politically advantageous states.” … One measly word that only Dems find funny propelled him to the top of her VP-search list? Apparently so. … It’s a disappointing choice. Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro would have helped the ticket more as moderate-liberal governor of a battleground state. He would have also solidified the Jewish-American vote. Walz’s Minnesota? It’s reliably blue. …

But I do like his history teacher, football coach and National Guard background.

Update – The Globe’s pundits react to the Walz pick – and I’m with David Shribman (who calls the selection, well, “weird”) and Shelly Cohen (“Vanilla: The taste of disappointment”).