Many republicans have been left surprised by US Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris' choice of running mate.
The de-facto Democratic nominee for president chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz after two weeks of vetting and interviewing candidates.
A former geography teacher, Governor Walz helped push through progressive legislation during his time in office, including providing free meals for school children, securing abortion protections and gun control measures.
Even though he has a history for winning over republicans, his policies are being used as fodder for the opposition as they label the democratic ticket 'radical-left’.
"The biggest problem with the Tim Walz pick, it's not Tim Walz himself. It's what it says about Kamala Harris, that when given the opportunity she will bend the knee to the most radical elements of her party" said Mr Trump’s running mate, JD Vance.
The democrats have "taken a knee to these radical extremists that are anti-Semites and anti-Israel," said Republican Congressman Tom Emmer.
The announcement has perplexed some within the GOP, especially those who thought that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro may have posed a bigger threat to the Trump/Vance campaign.
"I thought Vice President Harris was going to pick Josh Shapiro - the pragmatic [Pennsylvania] governor from a swing state that she desperately needs to win," said Jerrod Dobkin, a republican political consultant with OnMessage.
"Instead it looks like she took cues from her far-left base and went with a progressive governor that I don’t really see how it helps the ticket" he told RTÉ’s US Election podcast States of Mind.
Co-founder of Republican Women for Progress Meghan Milloy also said she was surprised by the choice.
"I think that this shows the continued influence that Nancy Pelosi has on the party behind the scenes. You hear rumblings that she has been advocating for Walz over the past couple of weeks".
While Governor Shapiro was seen as a potential running mate who could shore up support in the critical battleground state of Pennsylvania, Ms Milloy said she understands why Kamala Harris chose Tim Walz.
"This is really a play with the dems to try and get that blue collar Midwestern kind of Wisconsin, Michigan voter that the democrats have really been shedding over the past few months," she said.
"I think when you put VPs head to head - Vance vs Walz - Walz really plays better to that middle base," she added.
"No he’s not from a swing state, no he’s not the Pennsylvania that they need, but I think Shapiro will be able to campaign effectively in his state and Walz really plays to a critical voter block that the democrats need to win," she said.
And that's a message Josh Shapiro was keen to make in his statement.
"Over the next 90 days, I look forward to travelling all across the Commonwealth to unite Pennsylvanians behind my friends Kamala Harris and Tim Walz and defeat Donald Trump," said the VP finalist.
Listen to the latest episode of RTÉ's States of Mind, or download from wherever you get your podcasts.
