Kamala Harris introduces VP pick Tim Walz, teases platform to roaring approval from Philly crowd
Minnesota governor calls it 'honour of a lifetime' to be Harris's vice-presidential pick
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her newly chosen running mate, Tim Walz, took the stage to a roaring crowd at their first ever rally together in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening.
Harris, the U.S. vice-president to President Joe Biden, who became the Democratic candidate after Biden dropped out of the race, announced earlier on Tuesday that she had picked Walz and said in a post on social media that he has "delivered for working families" as a governor of Minnesota, coach, teacher and veteran.
Walz called it "the honour of a lifetime" to be Harris's vice-presidential pick.
In choosing the 60-year-old Walz, Harris is elevating a Midwestern governor, military veteran and union supporter who helped enact an ambitious Democratic agenda for his state, including sweeping protections for abortion rights and generous aid to families.
It was her biggest decision yet as the Democratic nominee, and she went with a broadly palatable choice — someone who deflects dark and foreboding rhetoric from Republicans with a lighter touch, a strategy that the campaign has been increasingly turning to since Harris took over the top spot.
A 'fight for the future'
Harris stood in front of an electric crowd and said now that her party has finished the virtual vote to nominate a presidential candidate and she secured the requisite number of delegates, she is officially the democratic nominee for the presidency.
"So, now we have some work to do," said Harris. "We have to move to the general election and win that."
She told the crowd she and Walz are the underdogs but they have the momentum and drive to win.
"This campaign, our campaign, is not just a fight against Donald Trump. Our campaign, this campaign, is a fight for the future," said Harris.
Harris said the Democrats will focus on affordable child care, paid maternity leave and building a broad-based economy where every American can afford a home.
She said she and Walz will restore reproductive freedom, lower the cost of living for families and bring in universal background checks for gun owners and a ban on assault weapons.
She called Walz "a fighter for the middle class. A patriot who believes, as I do, in the extraordinary promise of America. A promise of freedom, opportunity and justice, not just for some, but for all."
Walz was a congressman for Minnesota's First Congressional District for 12 years. Before that, he served in the Army National Guard for 24 years. Harris praised his career as a teacher and football coach and his commitment to family as a loving husband and father to two children.
Harris said she and Walz both grew up in working class families, she in Oakland, Calif., Walz in small-town Nebraska.
"It's the promise of America," Harris said. "Because only in America is it possible for them together to make it all the way to the White House."
Gabrielle Gathers, 18, will be voting for the first time in November.
"I came to the rally to be a part of history," said Gathers after the event ended.
She told CBC News that the rally left her feeling inspired. She said she now believes she can do anything, even become president one day.
"The energy was very high. I feel like she gave us a lot of hope," she said. "And for this election, I think everyone is kind of on the same page, and it's really exciting."
At first Larry and Gail Vladimir were disappointed with Harris's pick for running mate, but after the rally, they said they were "thrilled with Tim."
"It would have been nice to have, a female, Black president and a Jewish vice-president," Larry Vladimir said, referring to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who also spoke at Tuesday's rally and was considered a top candidates to be Harris's running mate.
"I think that would have been, special, but it wasn't meant to be."
Walz 'can't wait' to debate Vance
Walz came across as humble and said he was honoured to be chosen. He started off his speech by honouring Shapiro, who he beat out to become Harris's vice-presidential pick.
"My God what a treasure you have in Josh Shapiro," Walz told the Philly crowd. "Holy hell can this guy bring the fire!"
Of Harris, he said she has stood up to the powerful, the criminal and "she never hesitated if it meant improving peoples lives."
Walz was born in West Point Nebraska, and spent 23 years teaching social studies and coaching high school football. His wife, Gwen, was also an educator for 29 years.
He entered politics in 2006 when he beat out a Republican to win a seat in congress. Of his time as a Democratic representative, Walz said he "learned the art of compromise without compromising my values."
He also talked about the infertility trouble he and his wife experienced for years. He said they tried IVF, and when they were eventually able to conceive, they named their daughter Hope.
Walz had pointed comments about their Republican opponents in the upcoming election.
"Violent crime was up under Donald Trump. And that's not even counting the crimes that he committed," he said to a cheering crowd that began to chant "Lock him up."
As for Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance, Walz expressed enthusiasm at the possibility of debating the Republican senator from Ohio.
"I gotta tell you, I can't wait to debate the guy," he said with a smile, pausing for a long moment as the crowd roared. "That is, if he's willing to get off the couch and show up!"
'History in the making'
"I didn't want to miss this," said Mindie Lazinsky, 71, who drove from Baltimore to be at the rally.
"I really believe right now that this is a fight for democracy. And I want to be a part of the fight," she said.
The rally was held at Temple University's Liacouras Center in North Philadelphia. The venue holds about 10,000 people, but even more showed up in hopes of getting in. Security was very tight and nearby streets were closed down, with hundreds of police, secret service agents and military personnel present as well.
"I didn't know you needed a ticket to get in, but I still came," said Zack Reedy, 35, who stood outside in the rain blowing a whistle and holding a sign that read "Kamala is future."
Reedy lives in the Bronx and says he struggled with a crystal meth addiction for seven years. He's now 20 months sober and just landed a job as a substance abuse counsellor in New York City, where he lives below the poverty line and will finally be making a living wage. Reedy says he's hopeful, not just for his own future, but for that of the country.
"This is history in the making," he said.
He didn't know much about her running mate, Walz, but has become a big supporter.
"The VP position at this time of the campaign is the cheerleader, the hype man. And he's great for that. I think he's gonna do a great job doing that," said Reedy.
Jennifer Castro, 41, and Dr. Greg Labier, 39, waited in line with hundreds of people for a chance to see Harris and Walz. The Philadelphia natives were surprised at her choice, but supported her decision.
"He's going to secure the Midwest for us. He has a lot of progressive, values. And he's done great things in the state of Minnesota. So we're very excited for him," said Labier.
"I think he's qualified. He has a lot of experience, and I'm excited for him," said Castro.
Shapiro calls Harris 'battle tested'
Just 24 hours earlier, it was widely believed Shapiro would be Harris's pick. The 51-year-old governor spoke at the rally, taking the stage to roaring applause and a standing ovation.
"I want you to know I will continue to put my heart and soul into serving you as your governor," Shapiro told the crowd.
"I'm gonna be working my tail off to make Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are the next leaders of the United States of America," he said.
Shapiro, who said he and Harris have been friends for two decades, told the crowd she's the right person for the toughest job in the world.
"She's courtroom tough, she has a good heart and she's battle tested and ready to go," said Shapiro.
Gayathri Vel, 46, moved from Nebraska to New York on Sunday, and on Tuesday she, her teenage son and her parents made the drive to Philly to support the Harris-Walz ticket.
"I'm super excited to see, hopefully, our first woman president," said Vel. "I am originally from India, and we've had women prime ministers since the 1970s, and I'm yet to see that in the U.S.," she said.
The elementary school teacher said she's placing all her support behind the Democratic ticket and hopes they'll come out on top on Nov. 5.
"I think she's a very good, debater. So I'm really hoping she can stand up well against Trump," said Vel.
Walz is joining Harris on the ticket during one of the most turbulent periods in modern American politics. Republicans have rallied around Trump after he was targeted in an attempted assassination in July. Just days later, Biden ended his re-election campaign, forcing Harris to scramble to unify Democrats and decide on a running mate over a breakneck two-week stretch.
Following the rally, Harris and Walz will spend the next five days touring critical battleground states, visiting Eau Claire, Wis., and Detroit on Wednesday and Phoenix and Las Vegas later in the week.
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With files from The Associated Press