Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for the upcoming US presidential election in November, held her first rally with her running mate, Tim Walz. She described their campaign as a “fight for our future.”
The rally took place in Pennsylvania, where Harris and Walz took the stage to Beyoncé’s song “Freedom,” just hours after Harris announced Walz, the governor of Minnesota, as her vice-presidential pick. Democrats hope Walz’s relatable background will attract voters in key Midwestern swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan.
Harris, a former attorney general of California, contrasted her background as a prosecutor with Republican rival Donald Trump’s criminal record. Speaking to about 10,000 supporters, she said, “This campaign is not just a fight against Donald Trump. Our campaign is a fight for the future.”
Walz, was forceful in his criticism of Trump. He accused Trump of mocking laws, sowing chaos, and mishandling the COVID crisis, which hurt the economy and increased violent crime. Walz’s comments about Trump’s crimes drew laughter and applause from the crowd.
Walz also targeted Republicans for their stance on women’s rights, which has been a contentious issue since the US Supreme Court ended women’s constitutional right to abortion in 2022. He urged people to mind their own business, earning a huge ovation.
The rally showed how Harris and Walz might appeal to voters: Harris as a trailblazing Black and South Asian former senator from California, and Walz as a white ex-congressman from the blue-collar Midwest. The Pennsylvania event was the first stop on their multi-day campaign tour through key states like Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada.
Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, quickly labeled Harris and Walz as too liberal. Trump called them “the most Radical Left duo in American history” on his social media platform.
Analysts noted that Harris and Walz are aligned on policy and have the experience to govern. Luis Navarro, a fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia, said the ticket represents both coastal liberals and Midwest working-class voters and effectively criticized the Republican ticket.
While most voters will decide based on the presidential candidate, the choice of a running mate can impact the ticket due to their background and ability to sway important constituencies.
Walz, a relatively low-profile politician, spent 12 years in the US House of Representatives representing a rural district in southern Minnesota. He became governor in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. Despite Minnesota not being a traditional Democratic stronghold, Walz won both races comfortably.
As governor, he approved policies like tuition fee programs for low-income students, free school meals, climate change goals, middle-class tax cuts, and expanded paid leave for workers.
Walz spoke of his upbringing in Butte, Nebraska, where he worked on the family farm and valued community and common good. He praised Harris for her work against predators, fraudsters, and transnational gangs, and her willingness to work across the aisle to improve people’s lives.
Harris and Walz’s joint appearance comes ahead of the Democratic Party convention in Chicago on August 19. The rally highlighted the stark differences in the race since President Joe Biden withdrew, endorsing Harris. Polls show Harris has closed the gap Trump had against Biden.
The Harris campaign reported raising over $20 million after announcing Walz as her running mate.
