Walzing Matilda? Australia sees something familiar in Tim Walz

Kamala Harris’s freshly minted running mate, Minnesota guv Tim Walz, has actually had a whirlwind week, in which he’s been otherwise characterised as an instructor, a veteran, a football coach and now, the most “Australian prime minister looking American political leader” of perpetuity. When United States vice-president Kamala Harris picked Walz as her running mate, Australians immediately saw something familiar in him. One Australian in New York shared a screenshot mentioning that Walz simply “looks Australian”. Others questioned why they felt in this manner. What was it, precisely, about this 60-year-old, white-haired male that made him appear like an individual from among the most culturally and linguistically varied populations worldwide? That was it: he appeared like the last 2 prime ministers– Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese– integrated. It wasn’t simply the last 2 prime ministers, another individual pointed out, it was every Liberal celebration prime minister. And after that it struck. It wasn’t simply one side of politics, Walz appeared to look like 4 of the last 5 prime ministers– 2 of whom were Labor leaders. And if you truly think of it, Walz appears like 5 of the last 7 Australian PMs, 2 of whom were Kevin Rudd, who is perhaps likewise the one he looks one of the most like anyhow. Or 6 of the last 8, if you return to John Howard. Regional news organisation Crikey stated Walz was “Oz-coded” which he looked so “exceptionally Australian” it was “spooky”. It shows something about the nationwide character, they composed. What could it be?

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