Tim Walz, the newly announced running mate for Kamala Harris, emphasized his rural background and criticized Donald Trump as leading the U.S. “backwards” during his debut at a lively Democratic Party rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
Walz, the governor of Minnesota, addressed thousands of supporters just hours after being named Harris’s vice-presidential candidate. He characterized their Republican opponents in the upcoming November election as “weird as hell.”
The Trump campaign swiftly denounced Walz as a “dangerously liberal extremist.” At 60, Walz is positioned as a candidate who could appeal to rural and working-class voters, particularly in key Midwestern states that have leaned toward Trump.
In Pennsylvania, a critical swing state, Harris described Walz and herself as “underdogs” in the tightly contested race but noted that they had momentum. She introduced Walz as “a fighter for the middle class, a patriot.”
Walz reflected on his modest beginnings in Nebraska and his service as a national guardsman and teacher, contrasting his background with Trump’s. He criticized Trump’s self-serving nature, drawing cheers from the audience with remarks about the former president’s criminal record and their Republican rivals, whom he described as “creepy” and “weird as hell.”
Walz also took aim at Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance, suggesting Vance might avoid debating him. The governor and Harris, who began a five-day tour of battleground states, emphasized their commitment to individual freedoms, including abortion rights and gun safety.
Walz’s plain-spoken, folksy style resonated with the crowd at Temple University, where he firmly addressed abortion rights, shouting, “Mind your own damn business!” The rally highlighted Walz’s significant legislative achievements as Minnesota’s governor, including progressive reforms on abortion rights, gun control, and paid family leave.
Republicans have criticized Walz for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including Minnesota’s mask mandate and the delay in deploying the National Guard during the George Floyd riots.
In Philadelphia, Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, criticized Harris’s choice of Walz, suggesting it catered to radical elements of the Democratic Party. Trump’s campaign labeled Walz as a “dangerously liberal extremist,” and President Joe Biden, who suspended his campaign last month to support Harris, affirmed the Democratic ticket’s commitment to defending personal freedoms and democracy.
Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania governor and a former finalist for Harris’s running mate, also attended the rally. Shapiro faced criticism from the left for his pro-Israel stance and handling of college protests related to the Gaza conflict.
Walz, a Nebraska native and former U.S. Congressman, brings a diverse background to the ticket. After 12 years in Congress and a career in teaching and the Army National Guard, he and his wife, Gwen Whipple, a fellow educator, moved to Minnesota, where he continued his teaching and coaching career.
