US presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her newly selected running mate, Tim Walz, embarked on their first campaign event together on Tuesday. They energized supporters at a rally in Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state where the contest against Donald Trump is expected to be fiercely contested.
Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, joined Harris in Philadelphia to kick off a tour through four swing states. This tour is seen as critical for winning over voters in the competitive race leading up to Election Day on November 5.
Harris, aiming to become the first woman president of the United States, has already made history as the first female, Black, and South Asian vice president. With time running short before the election, she highlighted her partnership with Walz as a pivotal step toward achieving a brighter future for the nation.
“We fight for a future where we defend our most fundamental freedoms,” Harris declared to a cheering crowd with Walz by her side. “I sought a partner who could help build this future—someone who will unite our nation and advance our progress. Governor Tim Walz is that leader.”
President Joe Biden praised Harris’s choice, stating that she and Walz “will be a powerful voice for working people and America’s great middle class.”
Traditionally, Harris was expected to choose a white male running mate to balance the ticket and appeal to working-class, white male voters—a demographic that supported Trump in 2016. Walz, a 60-year-old Midwesterner with a down-to-earth demeanor, military experience, and a rural background, fits this profile.
Walz has positioned himself as a counter to Trump and Republican running mate J.D. Vance, rejecting their views while highlighting his own experiences as a gun owner and outdoors enthusiast. His background includes flipping a Republican district in 2006 to win a US House seat and advocating for progressive issues like cannabis legalization, worker protections, and tighter gun control.
Trump’s campaign has labeled Walz a “dangerously liberal extremist” who seeks to impose Californian values on the nation. However, supporters at the Philadelphia rally expressed enthusiasm for Walz, noting his relatability and straightforward approach.
Walz, reflecting on his upbringing in Nebraska, emphasized his commitment to community values, respect, compromise, and service to the country. He received endorsements from both Democratic liberals and centrists like Senator Joe Manchin, who described him as “the real deal.”
Since being named as Harris’s running mate, Walz has described the selection as “an honor of a lifetime” and likened it to “the first day of school.”
Harris’s campaign has seen a remarkable rise since she entered the race last month following President Biden’s withdrawal due to age concerns. She has shattered fundraising records and narrowed what had been Trump’s lead in the polls.
Recent polls show Harris leading Trump nationally by three percentage points, a significant turnaround from Trump’s previous four-point lead over Biden. In swing states, Harris and Trump are now in a tight race.
The selection of Walz is seen as a critical test for Harris, who now faces the challenge of campaigning through Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada. Pennsylvania, a key state in the “blue wall” that secured Biden’s victory in 2020, was expected to be a focal point in Harris’s campaign.
