USSC Associate Professor Dr David Smith talked to The Chaser Report podcast about Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's small-town American "rural appeal."

"Republican dominance in rural districts is one of the major stories in American politics of the last 30 years," said Dr Smith.

"If [the Democrats] can just cut down those rural margins a bit ... then that would be hugely helpful for them in these close races.

"What they're hoping for is - this is someone who can sell progressive policies to rural America."