Harris, Walz make first joint Midwest stop at rally in Eau Claire
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — More than 12,000 people turned out to a rally in Eau Claire on Wednesday afternoon to see Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly-minted running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, marking their first appearance in the Midwest since Harris announced she had selected Walz to join the Democratic ticket with her.
Their event in Wisconsin, a key state for both campaigns this election, follows their debut in Philadelphia on Tuesday. In Eau Claire, Harris gave a similar stump speech and introduction of Walz, praising his "incredible track record" as governor.
Walz introduced her and shared his personal story about enlisting in the National Guard and then eventually becoming a high school teacher before entering politics, first representing southern Minnesota in Congress, then as governor in his second term.
He attacked former President Donald Trump.
"Donald Trump, he sees the world differently," Walz said in his speech. "He has no understanding of service because he's too busy servicing himself."
Trump narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016 before President Biden flipped it blue four years later with similarly thin margins. Harris said the road to victory to the White House runs through the Midwestern battleground state.
"With your help, we will win in November. We are going to win," Harris said.
Some supporters waited hours to get into the outdoor venue to get in, eager to hear their message since taking the reins of the party following Mr. Biden's decision to drop out of the race just two and a half weeks ago.
Melissa Kono, who lives in Independence, Wisconsin, said the president would still have her support had he remained the Democratic nominee, but said she's seen new enthusiasm for Harris.
"I've seen more people on the fence have a new energy, people who were excited about Obama. I see them coming around," Kono said. "I think it's awesome she came to Eau Claire, for her to prioritize this early in the campaign. This turnout is really hopeful for what's to come."
The majority of Eau Claire County voters supported Democrats in the last two presidential elections, while Trump handily won most of western Wisconsin. Both parties are targeting the region in this election.
Rod Smeltzer from Menomonie said Harris-Walz campaign's message resonates with him because they "talk about actual issues that affect people." He believes Walz is a good addition to the ticket.
"I think Mr. Walz is going to be a good choice, especially the way he communicates because this is a short race. We've got a short window here, and I'm hoping he can continue to connect," Smeltzer said.
Nearby Wednesday, Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance attacked Harris' record, including the crisis at the southern border while serving as vice president, and attacked her for not taking questions from journalists since becoming the nominee.