PHILADELPHIA—Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz debuted as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate at a campaign rally here on Tuesday evening, just hours after being announced as the nominee.
Walz, a former high school football coach and 24-year veteran of the Army National Guard, lived up to his reputation at the event as a plainspoken Midwesterner. He salted his remarks with homespun expressions and presented his left-of-center policy positions with a personal touch.
The rally kicks off a weeklong tour of battleground states in which the duo will visit Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada.
An overflow crowd of more than 10,000 people braved 90-degree temperatures and occasional rain showers while waiting in a line stretching some five blocks to enter the Liacouras Center at Temple University on the city’s north side.
Harris had announced Walz’s selection earlier in the day, while Jaime Harrison, chair of the Democratic National Committee, and Minyon Moore, chair of the Democratic National Convention, added in a statement that Harris and Walz had been certified as the Democrats’ nominees.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who had been considered a possible running mate, introduced Harris and praised her selection of Walz, calling him an outstanding governor and a great patriot.
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Much of Harris’s 32-minute address was devoted to introducing Walz, who was little known outside Minnesota prior to being placed on a shortlist of candidates for the vice presidential nod.
She described Walz as a fighter for the middle class and a patriot who believes in the promise of America.
“Tim Walz was the kind of teacher and mentor that every child in America dreams of having, and that every kid deserves, the kind of coach because he’s the kind of person who makes people feel like they belong and then inspire them to dream big. And that’s the kind of vice president he will be,” Harris said.
Walz’s Debut
Walz, a white-haired 60-year-old, spoke energetically about his entry into politics after some 20 years as a high-school teacher and coach.Recalling his upbringing in a small Nebraska town, Walz said he was inspired to join the National Guard by his father’s service in the Korean War and attended college on the GI Bill.
Walz was inspired to enter politics by his students, he said. “They saw in me what I was hoping to instill in them, a commitment of common good, a belief that one person can make a difference.”
The governor balanced his positions on reproductive issues and gun control by presenting his views as both deeply personal and as commonsense approaches to difficult issues.
On his support for abortion access, Walz said, “ In Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and their personal choices that they make.”
Concerning in vitro fertilization (IVF), Walz said, “This gets personal for me and my family.” He recounted years of unsuccessful IVF attempts, noting that when his daughter, conceived by IVF was born, they chose to name her Hope.
Regarding gun control, Walz said, “In Minnesota, we believe in the Second Amendment. But we also believe in common sense gun violence laws.”
Reactions
Attendees The Epoch Times spoke with seemed pleased with Walz’s selection. “I think Tim Walz has the ability to speak to different populations,” Tricia Jones, 67, of Philadelphia, said. “I think he has the talent to be able to speak Midwestern, and that’s really essential in the swing states.”As for Shapiro, the state’s popular governor being passed over, Linsey Will, 70, of Philadelphia, said, “I was really relieved because we need him in Pennsylvania.”
Democratic strategist Sawyer Hackett called Walz a “great pick” who “understands the modern political narrative fight” in a post on X.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called Walz a “great asset” to the vice president’s campaign, saying he will “deliver for the working families of the US.”
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said Harris and Walz are “weak on crime” and in favor of “open borders” immigration policies in a statement Tuesday.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Walz’s candidacy would further divide the country. “The need for an independent President who stands outside the divide and can unify the country is more compelling than ever,” Kennedy said in a post on X.
Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, the Republican vice presidential nominee, made a campaign appearance in Philadelphia earlier in the day at which he criticized Harris for her lack of press availability. Harris has not held a press conference since entering the race.
Walz, in his remarks, challenged Vance to meet him on the debate stage, saying, “I gotta tell you, I can’t wait to debate the guy.”
Walz concluded his 18-minute remarks by saying, “God bless America!” He and Harris were then joined on the stage by their spouses, Gwen Walz and First Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
