Tim Walz is Kamala Harris’s partner in the US presidential race. At the party convention in Chicago, he ceremoniously accepted his nomination as her vice president and presented himself as the man next door.
The Democratic US vice presidential candidate Tim Walz has called on Americans to stand together and warned against the policies of the Republican Donald Trump. What Trump and his people are planning is not only “strange” but also wrong and dangerous, Walz said in a speech at the Democratic Party convention in Chicago. There he ceremoniously accepted his nomination as vice president to presidential candidate Kamala Harris and said that this was “the honor of my life”.
Walz complained that Trump wanted to cut social security and take away people’s essential freedoms, such as access to abortion and artificial insemination. He and Harris had a different vision for the country. They stood for an America “in which workers are a priority, in which health care and housing are human rights, and in which the government stays the hell out of the bedroom.” It was about taking responsibility and creating a future in which everyone could live their lives freely. Trump and Vance, on the other hand, were pursuing a radical agenda.
Harris herself was not present on the third day of the party meeting in Chicago. Her big speech there is scheduled for Friday night in Germany – the grand finale of the party meeting. Walz gave a rather short speech and reeled off many well-known campaign messages. The governor of the state of Minnesota presented himself as the man next door, who comes from a small town where everyone accepts each other. “The family down the street may not think like you, they may not pray like you, they may not love like you.” But they are neighbors, so they look after each other.
The man next door
The Democratic campaign strategists are systematically portraying the 60-year-old as the approachable ex-teacher and ex-football coach, the down-to-earth father from the Midwest. The Democrat grew up in the country, in a small town in the state of Nebraska, served in the National Guard, later became a teacher and football coach before entering politics, first as a member of the House of Representatives, and since 2019 he has been governor of Minnesota. Former students of his were also present at the party convention.
Walz has a far less glamorous resume than others who were considered for the vice presidential post. But he brings with him some of the qualities that Harris desperately needs – as a black woman, former prosecutor and senator from the west coast state of California. Walz is a white man from the inland Midwest. He grew up in modest circumstances, is down-to-earth, enjoys hunting and has his own weapons. At the same time, he is someone with liberal views who has a lot of support in the left wing of the party.
The father of two did not have a strong national profile until recently, but has recently made a name for himself with his direct way of conveying political messages. In the election campaign, his role is to lash out against Trump and Vance.
The nation’s super mother and other stars
US talk show queen Oprah Winfrey also took a few swipes at Vance and Trump in a surprise appearance, without mentioning them by name. She warned that America must sometimes stand up to bullies in order to defend freedom and democracy. Decency and respect will also be on the ballot in the presidential election in November.
“Let us choose common sense over nonsense,” she warned. “Let us choose truth. Let us choose honor – and let us choose joy.” Harris stands for all of these things. Winfrey became world famous through a successful talk show that ran on US television for decades. She is one of the most influential women in the USA.
The Democrats also brought other stars to Chicago. Soul singer Stevie Wonder performed, as did singer John Legend.
Trump’s contrasting program
Republican opponents Trump and Vance, on the other hand, are spending the whole week doing something in contrast to the party convention. They are touring the states that are particularly hotly contested in the election. In one of these swing states, North Carolina, Trump campaigned outdoors for the first time since the assassination attempt on him in July.
There, protected by a glass wall, he lashed out at his rival, once again calling her “Comrade Harris” and addressing the Democrat, “You’re no good.” Since US President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, Trump has had a bit of trouble switching his campaign to his successor candidate Harris. He relies on crude personal attacks against her, regularly denigrating her as “stupid” and “crazy”, calling her a “communist” – in allusion to this, the derogatory nickname “Comrade Harris” is also used. Trump recently also attacked Harris with regard to her skin color and origins. Some party colleagues and advisors consider this problematic and recommend that he concentrate more on political content. Trump is undeterred by this.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
