Date: 2024-12-21 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00027317
US POLITICS
WALZ BECOMES VP CANDIDATE
The Telegraph: Kamala Harris: We are the underdogs, but we have momentum
WALZ BECOMES VP CANDIDATE
The Telegraph: Kamala Harris: We are the underdogs, but we have momentum
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz made their debut at a rally in Philadelphia Credit: Getty Images
Original article:
Peter Burgess COMMENTARY
Peter Burgess
Key moments: Chosen by us to get you up to speed at a glance
- 11:34pm ... Harris: ‘We are the underdogs in this race’
- 10:39pm ... Shapiro to ‘work his tail off’ for Harris-Walz
- 3:12pm ... Walz accepts Harris’s offer
- 2:24pm ... Analysis: Walz a huge win for the Left
- 2:18pm ... Shapiro snubbed
Kamala Harris described herself and Tim Walz as “the underdogs” in the race to defeat Donald Trump as she introduced her running mate to supporters in Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
The packed out rally at the city’s Liacouras Center, attended by thousands of grassroots voters, was intended to showcase party unity for a Democratic ticket with broad appeal.
Smiling in response to the raucous energy, Ms Harris nevertheless told the crowd: “We also need to level set. We are the underdogs in this race ... but we have the momentum, and I know exactly what we are up against.”
She cast the race as a “fight for the future” and offered a glimpse of how the duo - one a history-making first Black and female vice president, the other a white military veteran from the Midwest, planned to appeal to voters.
Walking out to Beyonce’s “Freedom”, the pair were clearly still unclear of their on-stage choreography, a consequence of the lightning speed with which Ms Harris has had to select her running mate.
But the duo appeared more at ease with each other than many pairings in recent history.
Mr Walz, 60, walked a step behind Ms Harris, 59, evidently intent on making the presidential candidate the star of the show.
Ms Harris called Mr Walz earlier on Tuesday morning to offer him the opportunity to serve as her running mate.
She spent much of her stump speech in Pennsylvania, a critical state in November’s race, introducing the little-known Minnesota governor to the public.
Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Credit: Reuters “He’s the kind of person who makes people feel like they belong and then inspires them to dream big,” she said. “That’s the kind of vice president America deserves.” Ms Harris contrasted the pair’s backgrounds, her own as “a daughter of Oakland, California” and Mr Walz “a son of the Nebraska plains who grew up working on a farm”.
“Only in this great country is it possible for them to make it all the way to the White House,” she said, promising “our campaign will reach out to everyone”.
Waltz a safe choice
In choosing the 60-year-old Midwesterner, Ms Harris has gone with a safe choice with broad appeal.
A former teacher and military veteran with years of experience in national politics, his selection has been praised by Democrats across the ideological spectrum.
Ms Harris jokingly compared his CV to Trump’s running mate, Ohio senator JD Vance.
“Some might say it’s like a match-up between the varsity team and the JV squad,” she joked.
The crowd went wild for Harris and Walz The crowd went wild for Harris and Walz Credit: Getty Images Yet, Mr Walz remains a little known figure for many Americans with less than three months until the election on November 5.
Speaking after her, Mr Walz said: “We’ve got 91 days. My God, that’s easy. We’ll sleep when we’re dead.”
The Midwesterner is known for taking a positive approach to politics, gaining popularity by dismissing Trump’s angry rhetoric as “weird”.
On Tuesday, Mr Walz said: “Just an observation of mind, I just have to say it. These guys are creepy and, yes, just weird as hell.”
The pair were repeatedly interrupted by applause and loud cheers as they addressed the crowd, many of whom were wearing bracelets that flashed red, white and blue lights and holding “Harris-Walz” signs.
Among those watching on was Philadelphia resident Barbara Carroll, a retiree aged over 65.
She described the atmosphere inside the rally as “energised”. “We’ve been here for five hours, it was energised the whole way,” she said.
Together, Ms Harris and Mr Walz were a “wonderful combination of talent and experience”. “Where she is weak, he has the strength,” she said.
Crystal M, a 62-year-old teacher, said the rally was “upbeat and positive”.
A longtime Joe Biden supporter, she said his replacement with Ms Harris and Mr Walz had nevertheless given the party “joy again”.
“It gives you a new found feeling about America. I hope we go full throttle, we need it,” she said.
Live Reporting ... Rozina Sabur, Deputy US Editor, in Philadelphia ; Chanel Zagon ; Raoul Simons ; Iona Cleave and Harriet Barber