NEW BERN, N.C. (WITN) – On Tuesday morning, Vice President Harris announced Tim Walz, the current Minnesota Governor, as her vice presidential nominee. Some Democrats around Eastern Carolina are thrilled with the choice.

“It is absolutely very exciting. I’ve updated the website today to feature that, and then obviously, we need new signs to compliment him and welcome Walz to the ballot,” said Craven County Democratic Party Chair Ryan Ewing.

Pitt County’s Democratic Party Chair, Molly Holdeman, said that she feels Walz will really understand what rural areas go through which benefits many areas here in the east.

“I think that it’s important to have someone from the Midwest who understands rural issues because they’re the same as they are in Minnesota, so having Tim Walz strengthens the team,” said Holdeman.

However, ECU Political Science Professor Brad Lockerbie said he felt this choice was actually a mistake.

“It is a problem for Harris, quite frankly, because she is, quote, ignoring the blue wall of the Pennsylvania area with Josh Shapiro on the ticket that would’ve made Pennsylvania more in play. Minnesota really is gonna be a democratic victory anyway,” said Lockerbie.

But Lockerbie says both the Democratic and Republican parties went with options similar to those of their VP nominees in how they will affect the election.

“I think both parties pick vice presidents that may do them no good and they do them a little bit of harm, but I think both parties have played their base,” said Lockerbie.

On Monday, it was announced that Harris would officially be on the ballot after a five-day virtual balloting by Democratic National Convention delegates ahead of the in-person convention.