We recently asked readers of the Morning Report, our newsletter, what they had observed or thought about all the attention Minnesota was getting with Gov. Tim Walz’s rising profile in national politics.

You can read some of their comments in our story.

Here’s more reaction:

An artist’s inspiration

Artist Karen Ritz used her illustrations of animals of the Minnesota northwoods, images she created previously for a children’s book for the Minnesota Historical Society, into t-shirts and bags that encourage people to vote in a humorous way. (Illustration courtesy of Karen Ritz)

Karen Ritz was excited about Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate for president; she was motivated by her running mate.

“It has been an artistic inspiration for me!” Ritz said in an email to the Morning Report.

The inspiration led Ritz to combine illustrations that evoke Minnesota with messages about voting.

“I am an artist, and uploaded these to my Etsy site as t-shirts and bags,” she wrote . “They are all Minnesota Northwoods animals from a children’s book I did for the Minnesota Historical Society a few years ago.”

Check out all the designs at etsy.com/shop/KarenRitzCreations.

A pep rally?

“He does very well at stirring up an athletic game crowd with arms waving and frequent gestures as he quickly turns his body around and around while laughing,” MJ Bilski wrote. “Unfortunately we, the TV audience, are trying to evaluate his ability to be a leader of our large and complex country which requires entirely different abilities.”

The New York Times

Gov. Tim Walz talks with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) at a Harris for President canvassing kickoff event in St. Paul, on July 27, 2024. (Caroline Yang/The New York Times)

“I have noted, as a daily hard copy reader of The New York Times, that the Times has given Tim Walz a lead story, front page, every day since his nomination,” wrote Sandra Murphy of Minneapolis.

“Today’s Style section of the Times has a very flattering piece on Gov. Walz’s wardrobe changes as he moved into prominence …

“… I have reflected on that extra special attention because it is unusual for them to keep returning to spotlight anyone like this.”

The national spotlight

“It’s great to see our governor in the national spotlight,” wrote Kevin McDonald, “I’ve learned more about Tim Walz in the last three weeks than the previous six years.”

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