Gov. Tim Walz talks of 'bringing the joy' in his national introduction at DNC
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gave the biggest speech of his political career as he accepted his party's nomination for vice president Wednesday night, using his Democratic National Convention address to thank the packed arena for “bringing the joy” to an election transformed by the elevation of his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“We’re all here tonight for one beautiful, simple reason: We love this country,” Walz said as thousands of delegates hoisted vertical placards reading “Coach Walz” in red, white and blue.
Many Americans had never heard of Walz until Harris made him her running mate just weeks ago. Walz used his 15-minute speech was an opportunity to introduce himself to the thousands of delegates in attendance — as well as the millions of people listening and watching at home.
He leaned into his experiences as a football coach, his time in the National Guard and his recounting of his family's fertility struggles — all parts of his biography that Republicans have questioned in the days since Harris picked him.
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Walz seemed to speak most to the undecided voters; even addressing some parts of his remarks to “those watching at home” and bookmarking other comments for people to “clip and save and send” to undecided voters.
He also played his main role as the vice presidential nominee: talking up the presidential candidate. Walz cast their ticket as the one that stands most for freedom.
“When Republicans use the word freedom, they mean that the government should be free to invade your doctor's office; corporations free to pollute your air and water; and banks free to take advantage of customers,” Walz said. “But when we Democrats talk about freedom, we mean the freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people that you love. Freedom to make your own health care decisions.”
He elicited cheers when he told a story about when his students encouraged him to run for Congress.
“There I was, a 40-something high school teacher with little kids, zero political experience and no money, running in a deep red district,” Walz said. “But you know what? Never underestimate a public school teacher.”
He also spent time touting the progressive policies he signed into law as governor and really turned up the “coach energy” at the end of his remarks.
“It's the fourth quarter. We're down a field goal, but we're on offense, and we've got the ball, we're driving down the field, and boy, do we have the right team,” Walz said.
While it's unclear if the speech will attract new voters, he further charmed Democratic supporters with his background and helped to balance Harris’ coastal roots as a cultural representative of Midwestern states whose voters she needs this fall.
The Harris campaign said Walz had worked on his speech for multiple days and he used a teleprompter for the first time, practicing to ensure he was prepared. He told the crowd, “I haven’t given a lot of speeches like this but I’ve given a lot of pep talks."
There was a very emotional moment where Walz was talking about how he and his wife used fertility treatment to get pregnant with their first child, Hope.
“If you’ve never experienced infertility, I guarantee you know someone who has," Tim Walz said Wednesday.
His daughter, Hope, made a heart with her hands and held it over her chest.
Walz told his kids and his wife, Gwen, that they were his world. Gus stood up, overcome with emotion, and could be seen mouthing “that’s my dad” during his speech.
Walz did not directly address the criticism he’s received from Republicans for how he’s portrayed his military record. He said he proudly served for 24 years, used the GI Bill to go to college and left it there.
Delegates were on their feet throughout. Afterwards many were reciting his lines.
“I think a lot of middle-aged white men feel seen and heard and represented, which I don’t think the Democratic party has been very successful in doing in the last eight or so years,” said Sungkawn Jang, a delegate from New Jersey.
Walz will remain in Chicago Thursday for Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech, followed by a lot of travel. Oct. 1 is the next major moment for Walz on the calendar when he debates GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance in New York.