In tapping Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as her running mate, Vice President Harris chose an affable figure with dad-joke zeal and “Minnesota nice” energy. 

But Walz’s time in the House reveals another dimension — one of a shrewd tactician able to survive rough political waters when other Democrats were sinking, and play hardball to achieve his ambitions when the moment demands.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz "misspoke" in a 2018 video circulated by the Harris campaign earlier this week that included the vice presidential candidate talking about his handling of weapons "in war," a campaign spokesperson said Friday.

The clarification comes after Republicans, led by veteran and vice presidential candidate JD Vance, have attacked Walz over his military record.

Vice President Harris’s campaign has pushed back on criticism of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s military background, saying the vice-presidential nominee “misspoke” in a video pushing for gun control when saying he used combat weapons during his time in the National Guard.

“Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any American’s service to this country — in fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country,” a Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson said in a statement emailed to The Hill.

Democratic vice presidential candidate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, whose military service has come under heavy scrutiny, "misspoke" in a 2018 video where he is heard talking about his handling of weapons "in war," a Harris campaign spokesperson said Friday.

"Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any American’s service to this country — in fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. It’s the American way," the Harris campaign spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News. 

Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt told Newsmax on Thursday that Democrats underestimated how big a deal stolen valor is to the military veteran community and how much offense veterans take when allegations of stolen valor surface such as those against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running for president, announced Walz as her running mate for the Democrat ticket on Tuesday.

Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) have their fair share of disagreements about policy and politics.

But they both agree that Tim Walz is an excellent vice presidential nominee.

“Gov. Walz is the real deal,” Manchin gushed, saying he’d “bring balance back to the Democratic Party.”

Walz is “a uniter for not just the Democratic Party but for the entire United States,” Ocasio-Cortez claimed.

Tim Walz helped Kamala Harris fire up the base on his Midwestern home turf.

Now, Democrats are about to find out how he plays outside that region. The new running mates are turning their attention from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt — testing whether Walz’s folksy, Midwestern brand can resonate beyond middle America.

In introducing her pick for vice presidential running mate, Kamala Harris has prominently touted Tim Walz’s 24 years of service in the Army National Guard. Now, however, GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance and the Trump campaign are attacking Walz on his military record, accusing the Minnesota governor of “stolen valor.”

We’ll sort through the facts surrounding the three main attacks on Walz’s military record and let readers decide their merit. The claims include:

Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) is calling for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to provide information on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's military record, which has come under scrutiny since being tapped as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate.

Why it matters: In a letter sent to Austin on Thursday, Banks — the chair of the House Armed Services' Military Personnel subcommittee — said he has concerns about how Walz represented his time serving in the Army National Guard.