Harris and Walz Launch Campaign with Energetic Rally in Philadelphia

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz kicked off their campaign as the new Democratic ticket with a lively rally in Philadelphia, where they addressed thousands of enthusiastic supporters. Tim Walz, recently announced as Harris’s running mate, emphasized his rural roots and criticized former President Donald Trump for policies that he claimed would take the U.S. “backwards.”

The Minnesota governor, speaking for the first time as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, called the Republican opponents in the upcoming November election “weird as hell.” Despite the Trump campaign’s swift response labeling Walz as a “dangerously liberal extremist,” his presence on the ticket is seen as a strategic move to attract rural and working-class voters who have leaned toward Trump in key Midwestern states.

Kamala Harris, currently serving as the U.S. Vice President, expressed optimism about the campaign’s momentum, describing themselves as “underdogs” in what is expected to be a tightly contested election. She praised Walz as “a fighter for the middle class, a patriot,” highlighting his Nebraska small-town upbringing and his career as a national guardsman and teacher.

The rally marked the beginning of a five-day tour across crucial battleground states for Harris and Walz. They are also scheduled to speak at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from August 19 to 22.

As the two-term governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz has overseen a highly productive legislative period, implementing a progressive agenda that includes guaranteeing abortion rights, passing gun control measures, and instituting paid family leave. This legislative success positions Walz as a candidate with the potential to appeal to a broad spectrum of voters, particularly in states critical to the Democratic strategy in the upcoming election.