US vice presidential candidate Tim Walz launched harsh attacks against his opponent Donald Trump at his first joint campaign appearance alongside Kamala Harris. The governor of the state of Minnesota accused Trump of sowing “chaos and division” in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening (local time). Just before the rally, Walz had been named by presidential candidate Harris as her candidate for the second highest state office.
At the appearance of the new top tandem of the US Democrats in front of around 10,000 enthusiastic supporters in the metropolis in the state of Pennsylvania, Walz gave an extremely combative speech. He again used the fighting word “weird” for Trump and his running mate JD Vance, with whom Walz had already caused a furore in recent weeks.
Trump and Vance are “creepy” and “weird as hell,” said the 60-year-old, while Harris, standing behind him, grinned. Walz also made other points against the ex-president. He denounced the fact that the number of violent crimes had increased under the Republican’s presidency – and added amid laughter and applause: The crimes that Trump himself had committed “were not even included.”
Walz was referring to the legal entanglements of the right-wing populist, who was convicted of sexual assault in a civil case last year and found guilty of falsifying business documents in a criminal case this year, requiring him to pay hush money. Trump is thus the first former US president in history to be convicted of a criminal offense – which is why Harris, who was previously Attorney General of California, likes to portray her dispute with Trump as one between prosecutor and criminal.
During Harris and Walz’s joint appearance, it also became clear that they want to portray Trump as a threat to the basic freedoms of US citizens until the election in November. Walz warned that the Republican wants to enforce a nationwide ban on abortion – this right has already been drastically restricted or completely abolished in numerous Republican-dominated states.
“We are fighting for a future in which we defend our most basic freedoms,” said the 59-year-old vice president. If Trump returns to the White House, he would “pick up exactly where he left off four years ago, only this time it will be much, much worse,” warned Walz.
The location of Harris and Walz’s first campaign appearance was chosen for strategic reasons. Pennsylvania is considered to be the state that Harris must win in order to win an overall victory over Trump on November 5. That is why the state’s governor, Josh Shapiro, was also considered as her possible running mate. Shapiro attended the rally and announced that he would “work hard” for the new leadership duo.
The US media attributed Harris’ decision to Walz to the fact that she felt the best personal connection to the governor of Minnesota of all the candidates. Shapiro’s weakness was also mentioned as being that many on the left wing of the party perceive him as too pro-Israel.
Walz comes from a state that is not considered to be part of the narrow circle of swing states that will be decisive in the election. However, with his origins from a rather humble background, his previous experience as a soldier in the National Guard, teacher and football coach at a high school, and his down-to-earth and direct manner, he should help Harris to win over undecided voters in the middle and to conquer swing states that will be decisive in the election.
At the same time, Walz represents progressive positions in several policy areas that appeal to the left wing of the Democratic Party. As governor, for example, he passed laws legalizing cannabis and stricter gun laws and supported abortion rights.
In her speech in Philadelphia, Harris praised Walz as a leader “who unites our nation and moves us forward” and as a “fighter for the middle class.” Meanwhile, Republicans have already launched fierce attacks against Walz. Trump’s campaign team called him a “dangerous left-liberal extremist.” Vance called Walz’s political record a “joke.”
In the coming days, Harris and Walz plan to visit other swing states. In some polls, Harris has now slightly overtaken Trump nationwide.
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