Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, her newly announced running mate, at their first rally together on Tuesday in Philadelphia: NAJ screen shot

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Vice President Kamala Harris appeared for the first time alongside her newly-announced running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, introducing him on Tuesday evening at a packed rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“Thank you for bringing back the joy,” Walz said as he turned and beamed at Kamala Harris after she presented him to the crowd.

“So, we’ve got 91 days. My God, that’s easy,” Walz said during his debut. “We’ll sleep when we’re dead.”

Democrats proved quick to embrace their new ticket on Tuesday, after it was announced on Intragram earlier in the day.

Democrat Kamala Harris Picks Tim Walz as Vice Presidential Running Mate

The Harris campaign said it had raised more than $20 million in the hours since Walz’s selection became official Tuesday morning, according to reporting from the New York Times.

Harris introduced him by telling his story of being a teacher, coach and mentor to gay students, making them feel like they had a place.

“In Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and their personal choices that they make, even if we wouldn’t make the same choice for ourselves,” Walz said, as Harris smiled behind him. “There’s a golden rule: Mind your own damn business.”

In the span of roughly two weeks, Walz, a folksy former social studies teacher and football coach, went from a little-known Midwestern governor to a Democratic star. His rise was fueled by his catchy attacks on former President Donald Trump, including declarations that Republicans were pushing “weird” ideas. Democrats hope he can appeal to middle-of-the-road voters, especially in the Upper Midwest.

Republicans, however, see openings to brand Harris and Walz as beholden to the most progressive forces in their party. On Tuesday, they cast the Minnesota governor’s record as overly liberal, especially on issues around public safety.

Appearing in Philadelphia before the Harris-Walz rally, Republican vice-presidential nominee J.D. Vance slammed Walz as a “San Francisco-style liberal” who represents the “radical left” of the Democratic Party.

Walz denounced Trump for his handling of Covid, the economy and crime. But he saved his harshest words for Trump’s running mate, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, whose background he sarcastically compared with his own.

“Like all regular people I grew up with in the heartland, JD studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley billionaires and then wrote a best-seller trashing that community,” Walz said. He added that he couldn’t wait to debate Vance “if he’s willing to get off the couch and show up.”

Harris selected Walz (pronounced Walls) over other contenders including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who delivered a soaring and heartfelt speech at the rally, during which he endorsed the Minnesota governor as a “great patriot.”

Video of Walz speech:

Reaction

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party issued a statement on Tuesday congratulating Walz on his selection.

“Congratulations to Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, who Vice President Harris has chosen to be her running mate. Governor Walz is a champion for America’s working families, and he has delivered for them throughout his life. He is a former high school teacher, football coach, and National Guard member,” the statement read.

He has built a legacy of prioritizing and protecting the people he has served, they pointed out. Governor Walz immediately protected reproductive freedom, making Minnesota the first state to pass a law codifying abortion following the Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade. He is a gun owner who, like millions of gun owners, believes that Congress must do more to tackle gun violence in our communities. He knows the value of hard work and working families. He is a union member who grew up working on his family farm and taught high school students for two decades.

As Governor, he signed the largest tax cut in state history and put paid leave into law so that parents could take care of sick family members without losing their jobs.

“We look forward to delivering a victory for the Harris-Walz ticket, which is poised to win in November, both in Pennsylvania and nationwide,” said Chairman and Senator Sharif Street.

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