When Vice President Kamala Harris, dubbed “Laffin’ Kamala” by Trump, was considering whom to anoint as her running mate, there was a deep bench of qualified contenders: astronaut hero Sen. Mark Kelly, straight from central casting California Governor Gavin Newsom, wildly popular Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and youthful Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, to name a few.

Harris did not go for ideological or geological balance, instead she doubled down on the joy factor. Harris, who will burst into laughter at the drop of a dime, chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is renowned for his jovial demeanor. Walz is the quintessential happy warrior whose enthusiastic nature never dims even when interacting with the political opposition.

During the vetting process Harris and Walz clicked, they shared the same gleeful vibe. Their cheerfulness is infectious, and their campaign rallies match Trump’s in crowd size, and exceed his in exuberance and exultation. These joyful warriors are drowning out Trump’s gloom and doom with their hopeful vision of liberty and freedom for everyone, including racial, religious, and sexual minorities.

When I consider these gleeful politicians not only do I feel motivated to vote for them, but I wish I could hug them and share in their rapture.

It is with a sense of elation that I will vote the Harris/Walz ticket.