Former state Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka shared with Fox News Digital his experience working with Gov. Tim Walz over the years.

Tim Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, is becoming Kamala Harris’ Sarah Palin.

In August 2008, GOP presidential candidate John McCain startled the country by picking Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate. The choice was meant to buttress the Arizona Senator’s popularity with conservatives, and made history, as Palin was the first Republican woman to run for the vice presidency.

Former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican party Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin addresses the audience at the 2016 Western Conservative Summit in Denver, Colorado on July 1, 2016. (JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images)

Palin was little known at the time but was introduced to voters as a plucky mother of five and a folksy "Mama Grisly," a term she coined to describe herself. The attractive 44-year-old governor lessened concerns about McCain’s age and health issues, and infused his campaign with much-needed energy, drawing large crowds and enthusiasm. Most important, Republicans hoped the former mayor of Wasilla would attract working-class Americans to their ticket.

HARRIS FOLLOWING BIDEN'S 'TROJAN HORSE' BLUEPRINT FOR VICTORY, EXPERT SAYS: 'DISTRACTING PEOPLE'

Unhappily, it turned out the McCain camp had not sufficiently vetted Palin. She stumbled on the campaign trail, took a beating from the liberal press for lacking foreign policy chops, and despite being popular with conservatives, became a millstone for the GOP ticket, which lost to Barack Obama and Joe Biden that November.

Most damaging, picking Palin made voters question John McCain’s judgment.

FILE – Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., arrives for work on Capitol Hill hours after voting NO........

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