Tim Walz talked about his background from rural areas and criticized Donald Trump, saying Trump would make the US “go backwards.”
This was Walz’s first appearance as Kamala Harris’s vice-presidential pick at a lively Democratic rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Walz, who is the governor of Minnesota, called their Republican opponents in the upcoming election “weird as hell.”
The Trump campaign responded by labeling Walz a “dangerously liberal extremist.” Walz is seen as someone who could appeal to rural and working-class voters in the Midwest, many of whom supported Trump.
A former football coach and teacher, Walz is known for his plain-spoken style and strong connection with middle-class Americans, which is why Harris chose him as her running mate.
At the rally, Harris, the current vice president, described herself and Walz as “underdogs” in what is expected to be a tight election. She introduced Walz as “a fighter for the middle class, a patriot.” Walz criticized Trump, saying Trump “doesn’t know the first thing about service.” He also used a popular attack line, calling the Republican opponents “creepy and weird as hell.”
Walz showed his straightforward style by taking a jab at Republicans on abortion rights, telling them to “mind your own damn business!” The crowd at Temple University cheered loudly. Harris and Walz started a five-day tour of key battleground states and plan to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from August 19 to 22 .
As Minnesota’s governor, Walz has led significant legislative changes, securing abortion rights, passing gun control measures, and introducing paid family leave. However, Republicans criticized his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and his delay in deploying the National Guard during the riots after George Floyd’s murder in 2020 .
Earlier on Tuesday, JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, criticized Harris’s choice of Walz, saying it shows Harris will “bend the knee to the most radical elements of her party.”
Trump’s campaign called the Harris-Walz ticket a “dangerously liberal extremist” duo, claiming their vision is “every American’s nightmare” .
President Joe Biden, who endorsed Harris after suspending his own campaign, stated that the new Democratic ticket would be “the strongest defenders of our personal freedoms and our democracy.” Another finalist for Harris’s running mate, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, was also at the rally.
Some Trump advisers were relieved Harris did not pick Shapiro due to concerns he could help win Pennsylvania .
Walz’s background includes representing a Republican-leaning district in Congress for 12 years, being the only Democrat to win that seat in 30 years. Born in Nebraska, Walz is the son of a school administrator and a stay-at-home mother.
He grew up farming, hunting, and served in the Army National Guard for 24 years. He also taught school in China for a year, speaks some Mandarin, and met his wife, Gwen Whipple, in Minnesota, where he taught social studies and coached football .
BBC News provided this information .
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx288w21y48o