Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz embarked on a campaign tour through five battleground states, aiming to introduce themselves to voters and strengthen their partnership. Big crowds turned out for their rallies, including 15,000 in Detroit and Glendale, Arizona. The size of these gatherings contrasted with President Donald Trump’s own events, sparking some competition and counterprogramming from the Republican ticket.
Harris and Walz delivered similar stump speeches at each stop, with Harris emphasizing her prosecutorial background and commitments to organized labor and the hospitality industry. Walz shared personal stories from his time in the Army National Guard and as a high school teacher and football coach. Both candidates used signature phrases to energize the crowd, such as Harris detailing her experience prosecuting criminals and Walz urging audiences to stay engaged throughout the campaign.
Throughout the tour, Walz introduced the words “joy” and “weird” to the campaign, describing Trump and Vance’s policies as the latter and crediting Harris with bringing a sense of joy back to politics. The crowd at several stops chanted “lock him up” in reference to Trump, but Harris redirected the focus toward the upcoming election by emphasizing the need for voters to make their voices heard on Election Day in November.
The campaign also featured some moments of humor and unexpected encounters, such as Vance’s attempt to shadow Harris and Walz during their tour. Walz occasionally mixed up the countdown to Election Day, but he and Harris remained focused on engaging with voters and building momentum for the Democratic ticket. Additionally, Harris made a bonus stop in San Francisco to raise campaign funds, joining Nancy Pelosi in an event that raised over $12 million.
The tour provided Harris and Walz with an opportunity to connect with voters in key swing states and highlight their vision for the future. Despite challenges like weather-related cancellations in Georgia and North Carolina, the candidates were able to generate enthusiasm and support among their supporters. As the campaign continues, both Harris and Walz remain focused on energizing the Democratic base and reaching out to undecided voters in a push to secure victory in the upcoming election.
