Walz suffers embarrassing gun-loading gaffe during hunting photo-op

Despite initial insistence that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was a sort of Midwestern everyman who would appeal to rank-and-file voters across the country, Democrats are coming to terms with the fact that things have not quite gone according to plan.

Walz's seeming decline in favorability among the electorate was hastened over the weekend when, during a pheasant hunting photo-op, the governor appeared to experience an embarrassing degree of difficulty loading his shotgun, despite his claimed status as an outdoorsman and his years of service in the National Guard, as Fox News reports.

Photo-op gone awry

The scene of Walz's latest mishap was an open field in his home state of Minnesota, where the governor attempted to partake in the opening day of pheasant hunting season, with photographers and journalists in tow.

Video of the outing posted to social media showed Walz wrestling with his rifle and having little luck getting it loaded.

It did not take long for comments critical of the governor to come rolling in, with country music star John Rich observing, “Tim Walz claimed he carried 'weapons of war in combat' but he can't load a shotgun? This guy is beyond weak.”

Radio host Buck Sexton joined in the onslaught, noting, “Tim Walz looks as comfortable loading a shotgun as Kamala does answering basic questions.”

Conservative pundit John Cardillo was particularly detailed in his critique, writing, “Tim Walz claims that he's a lifelong bird hunter, but this clearly proves he has no idea how to load or charge a semi automatic shotgun. I shoot A LOT of sporting clays with both semi0autos but mostly over-unders. He's a first timer right here.”

Walz's mounting woes

The bumbling pheasant hunt was not Walz's only stumble in recent days, as he also got himself into a bit of hot water by asserting that the Electoral College system was in need of eradication.

That position quickly drew awkward clarification from the Harris campaign of which Walz is an integral part, declaring that elimination of the Electoral College is not part of its platform.

Walz's uncomfortable week continued on Friday, when he made an appearance at Mankato West High School in his home state to attend a local match-up of rival squads.

In addition to having to confront a cadre of pro-Palestinian protestors, Walz was reportedly greeted by a fair amount of indifference, silence, and pro-Trump messages written on players' towels, as Fox News noted separately.

Though Walz's introduction to the nation by the Harris campaign was initially portrayed as a smashing success, the joy, it now seems, may be well and truly gone.