Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz made a powerful statement in their inaugural rally as the Democratic presidential team on Tuesday night, launching a blistering campaign against Donald Trump and JD Vance before a roaring crowd in Philadelphia.
In a powerful and unsparing introduction at Temple University’s Licouras Center, Walz took the stage alongside Harris just hours after her historic announcement of him as her running mate. With just 91 days until the election, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Walz’s selection ends a high-stakes search for the next vice president, bringing in a seasoned Midwestern leader known for his military service, teaching background, and progressive accomplishments.
Harris, addressing an enthusiastic crowd of about 12,000, declared her commitment to finding a partner who can “unite this nation and move us forward.” She emphasized the need for a “fighter for the middle class” and a “patriot” dedicated to the core American promises of freedom and justice for all.
Recounting Walz’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights during the 1990s, Harris praised him for his role as a high school faculty adviser to a gay-straight alliance group, a bold move in an era of federal discrimination. “Walz inspires people to dream big and makes them feel they belong,” Harris asserted. “That’s the kind of vice president he will be—and the kind America deserves.”
Walz, who served Minnesota in Congress from 2007 to 2017 and is now in his second term as governor, has recently surged onto the national stage with his no-nonsense critique of the GOP’s agenda. In his tenure as governor, Walz championed progressive policies like abortion rights protections and a free meal program for schoolchildren.
“Minnesota’s strength comes from our values, our commitment to working together, to seeing past our differences, to always be willing to lend a helping hand,” Walz told the crowd.
He then ripped into Trump with unrestrained scorn.
“Trump doesn’t know the first thing about service; he’s too busy serving himself,” Walz charged. He accused the former president of weakening the economy for personal gain, mocking the law, and fostering chaos.
“He weakens our economy to strengthen his own hand, mocks our laws, and sows chaos and division, and that’s to say nothing of his record as president,” said Walz before adding: “Trump froze during the Covid-19 crisis, drove the economy into the ground,” and “make no mistake: violent crime was up under Donald Trump.”
“That’s not counting the crimes he committed,” he added.
Walz eagerly anticipated his upcoming debate with JD Vance, taking aim at Vance’s elitist credentials.
“Like most people who grew up in the heartland, JD studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley billionaires, and then wrote a best seller trashing that community,” he said, his voice carrying more than a hint of sarcasm, adding that what Vance represents is “not what Middle America is.”
He drew some of the loudest cheers of the night when he told rallygoers: “I can’t wait to debate the guy … if he’s willing to get off the couch and show up.”
Harris’s announcement came with impeccable timing—three months before Election Day and two weeks before the Democratic National Convention, where the Harris-Walz ticket will officially be nominated. The campaign’s momentum is undeniable, with Harris quickly amassing endorsements and a record-breaking fundraising haul that dwarfs the Republican war chest.
The newly minted Harris-Walz campaign secured an additional $20 million in the wake of Walz’s announcement, reflecting the electrifying energy of their first joint appearance. The rally evoked memories of the Obama-Biden era, drawing a diverse crowd that included die-hard supporters such as Bernie Strain, who expressed fierce opposition to Trump.
“Not today, not tomorrow, not ever,” Strain vowed, defending his son’s service against Trump’s disparaging remarks.
Former Republican Congress members, including James Greenwood and Joe Walsh, also weighed in, with Greenwood describing the post-Biden excitement as “electric” and Walsh praising Walz as an “everyman” figure who Democrats desperately need.
The Harris-Walz ticket has set the stage for a high-octane battle, with Walz’s no-holds-barred rhetoric promising a fierce fight against Trump and Vance in the coming months.
Watch the clips below:
.@Tim_Walz (D-MN): "He froze in the face of the COVID crisis. He drove our economy into the ground. And make no mistake, violent crime was up under Donald Trump. That's not even counting the crimes he committed." pic.twitter.com/i4aaUOs4fY
— CSPAN (@cspan) August 6, 2024
Walz on Vance: I can’t wait to debate the guy. That is, if he’s willing to get off his couch and show up. pic.twitter.com/1nEBAekXw0
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 6, 2024
