At his appearance as Kamala Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz stumped for the Democratic ticket (Harris and Walz) in front of a boisterous party crowd Sunday and said President Donald Trump would send America “backward” with Joe Biden just weeks away from winning back (or losing) Wisconsin.
Their Republican opponents in the November election are “weird as hell,” quipped the party’s new nominee for vice-president at an event here Tuesday night.
The Minnesota governor addressed thousands of cheering supporters’ moments after he was announced as Ms Harris’s choice.
The 60-year-old is positioned as someone who might be able to win back vital midwestern states in rural and working-class voters that have gone for Donald Trump.
On the eve of a rally in pivotal swing state Pennsylvania, Ms Harris – who is currently US vice-president and was to appear at Rashad Walz’s side there on Friday (local time) told reporters that she and Mr Walsh were “the underdogs” but said they had momentum.
Walz then described his experience growing up in rural Nebraska, becoming a national guardsman and teacher over an 18-year period before trying to distinguish himself from Trump.
Their Republican challengers are “weird as hell, and yeah these guys are creepy,” said Mr Walz.
The governor also announced he would see the Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance “on the debate stage,” provided he can be coaxed from his couch.
The two largely cast themselves as champions of individual rights: on abortion, and from gun violence.
On the Democrats’ side, Mr Walz has been praised for his plain-spoken folksiness and wasted no time taking a dig at Republicans on abortion access.
The response: “None of your damn business!” he said, prompting an ovation from the crowd of over 10k at Temple University.
Ms Harris and Mr Walz kicked off a five-day tour of important battleground states earlier on the weekend
The Democrats will also address the party’s national convention, to be held from 19 to 22 August in Chicago.
The current two-term governor of Minnesota, Mr Walz is in the midst of one of most successful legislative sessions for a state governor — enacting far-reaching progressive changes.
With Democrats controlling the state legislature, Colorado this year has enshrined abortion rights and passed gun control measures — alongside a signed law creating paid family leave.
Mr Walz has come under fire from Republicans over his state-wide mask mandate and for closing firms and schools through the Covid19 pandemic, as well as a hold-up in sending out National Guard soldiers to quell riots adhering to George Floyd’s occurred 2020 assassination.
Ms Harris’s selection of Walz “shows that when given the chance she will bend a knee to the most radical elements if her party,” Ohio RP Senator Ben Jordon told reporters.