It’s not just Gov. Tim Walz getting attention due to his rising profile in national politics.

So is Minnesota — and Minnesotans, including Rachel Malone.

“Just got back from the Olympics and on my 10-hour flight, had a man from (the) UK asking all sorts of things,” Malone emailed the Pioneer Press in response to a query. “Like what’s our best food, best cycle ride, (what our) education system (is) like, etc., etc., because of Walz.”

11 days

It was less than a month ago — on July 21 — when Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the race for the White House. On that same day, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate.

Sixteen days later, Walz bounded onto the stage of a rally in Philadelphia as Harris announced she had picked the governor of Minnesota as her running mate.

In the 11 days since, the national media has shown images of our governor enjoying life in Minnesota, from holding a piglet at the Minnesota State Fair to relishing a fall day at the dog park to walking in a field during a pheasant hunt.

Politics aside, these images have sparked curiosity about our section of “flyover country.”

This includes clicking on Explore Minnesota, Minnesota’s tourism-related site that directs people to everything from fall colors to festivals and more.

“With this recent news, Minnesota has certainly been on the top of people’s minds,” wrote Chris Morgan, communications and media relations manager at Explore Minnesota in an email to the Pioneer Press. “There is more curiosity about what Minnesota has to offer. As people do their research and explore the attractions and destinations available they are expressing a pleasant surprise.

“For us here at Explore Minnesota, it’s great to see the state get more exposure as people begin to realize all of the things we have been showcasing,” Morgan wrote. “In general, Minnesota destinations have been gaining more national attention and recognition recently. This has become another positive catalyst for continued interest in Minnesota.”

Maybe even … moving here?

“Since August 6, when Tim Walz was announced as VP, we’ve seen a 91% increase in organic sessions to our website’s ‘Move to Minnesota‘ page,” Morgan said.

The good life

It’s not the first time a governor has spotlighted life here amidst the 10,000 lakes.

Minnesota Gov. Wendell Anderson appeared on the cover of Time magazine on Aug. 13, 1973. (Pioneer Press files)

In 1973, then Gov. Wendell Anderson made the cover of Time magazine, dressed in a plaid shirt, smiling while holding up a northern pike, a lake in the background. The headline read, “The Good Life in Minnesota.”

Inside, the story reported on Anderson’s progressive policies, describing Minnesota as “a state that works.”

Fast forward more than 50 years, and our “good life” and “progressive policies” have been keywords in this governor’s national headlines, along with more controversial ones, of course, such as the handling of the chaotic aftermath of George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police officers and the food fraud cases involving defendants charged — and some now convicted — with stealing millions of dollars of pandemic aid meant to be used to feed children.

Social media

On social media, Minnesota-related sites and pages have been fielding comments from people who are reportedly nowhere near any of our 10,000 lakes.

“Tennessean here,” someone posted on the r/TimWalz community on Reddit. “I’ve been watching Minnesota for the last couple of years and I’d wish so much that Walz was my governor.”

“Native Texan here,” another person wrote on r/minnesota, “seeing Tim Walz as the VP Candidate Brings back warm memories of spending time in your lovely state.”

“West Coast liberal here: don’t hate me- are there any vegetarian hot dishes?” someone queried a Facebook group called “Wholesome Tim Walz Memes.”

(The response: Just use lentils, or simply use “fake chicken” or omit the chicken, bacon or other meats from the recipe.)

Are they making fun of us?

Do people want to move to Minnesota, stop by for a visit — or do they just want to make fun of us?

Ope.

Barb Danger of Eden Prairie is not pleased with Stephen Colbert’s take on Minnesota right now.

“I like Stephen Colbert,” Danger told the Pioneer Press, “but the other night he did a bit with two supposed ‘Minnesotans,’ portraying them as stupid hicks. It was such a nasty portrayal of this progressive state that I still plan to write to the show. They spoke like the characters in the original movie ‘Fargo.’ We don’t need that kind of attention.”

Was it really so bad, though? This Fargo native with an accent checked out the clip on YouTube.

“Walz’s superpower is his wholesome Minnesota charm,” Colbert said during the segment. “But, what do Minnesotans really know about Minnesota? For instance, all I happen to know is that it appears to be Iowa’s chef hat.”

(Hey, look at a map, he’s right.)

During the segment, Colbert played a clip of Walz at an out-of-state rally, wondering if people had to google “Minnesota” the week he was picked by Harris (“It’s true,” Colbert said). Colbert then brought on two of his writers, Gabe Gronli and Ariel Dumas, who apparently have Minnesota roots.

They came bearing big smiles — and bars and tuna noodle hotdish. You betcha, sounds accurate.

With their obviously exaggerated, campy accents, they talked about our most famous Paul Bunyan statues.

“It has two giant Paul Bunyans?” Colbert asked of Minnesota.

“Oh, that’s just two of the top five,” Dumas said.

“Sounds fun, guys,” Colbert quipped.

It is! So is reading the comments on the YouTube clip (there are currently more than 1,000 at youtube.com/watch?v=ls_gDmKtEiY), including this one that sums up pretty darn well:

” …so…. Minnesota is one of those few demographics where we ACTUALLY DO know each other,” a commenter wrote. “I went (to) K-12 with Ariel Dumas – her family has the BEST apple Orchard !!!!”

A connection on a plane

Just like Walz, many Minnesotans are easy to talk to, and perhaps that’s why the stranger from the United Kingdom had a nice conversation with Malone on their flight over the pond recently.

Malone, 36, of Currie, Minn. (near Walnut Grove of Laura Ingalls Wilder fame) and the stranger discussed everything from agriculture to education to a Minnesotan who is perhaps the most famous of us all: Prince!

Thanks to our Morning Report readers for contributing to this story. To read more of their comments and to subscribe to our free newsletter, go to TwinCities.com.

Related Articles

What to know about Tim Walz’s 1995 drunken driving arrest and how he responded

Vance and Walz agree to a vice presidential debate on Oct. 1 hosted by CBS News

Letters: Please wake up, fellow Democrats. Cities have limited budgets

As Gwen Walz enters the national stage, here’s what friends and others say about her

Minnesota National Guard officials weigh in on Tim Walz’s service