Last night, Governor Tim Walz delivered the keynote remarks at the Democratic National Convention and showed America exactly why Vice President Harris chose him to be her running mate.
In his remarks, Governor Walz highlighted the values that he learned growing up in a small town in Nebraska, which shaped his service in the National Guard, as a teacher, football coach, member of Congress, and governor – and that he will bring to the White House. Governor Walz laid out what Vice President Harris will do for working families and called on the American people to work together to elect Kamala Harris as president of the United States.
Here’s a look at what they’re saying:
On the Airwaves:
On CBS’s 2024 America Decides, Robert Costa: “But tonight, the United Center was his classroom. And he’s an inexperienced political figure, but he’s an experienced teacher. He had command. Language is one thing, rhetoric is another. Energy coursed through this speech. This country got to know who Tim Walz is. He’s a governor, but he’s also a former teacher, and he’s now perhaps a formidable political figure.”
On MSNBC’s Special Coverage, Rachel Maddow: “Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his family accepting the vice presidential nomination of the Democratic party. Giving, to my untrained ear, a pretty perfect speech. The part where he said, ‘I don’t give a lot of big speeches like this in my life but I have given a lot of pep talks.’ The crowd erupted in, coach, coach, coach. A nominating speech tonight from one of the young men in his life that he both taught and coached, then to be joined by the Mankato West football players he brought to the state championship, this was a very USA, USA kind of speech.”
On MSNBC’s Special Coverage, Jen Psaki: “Watching his kids react to him, as a mom, you know he is a good guy. Because if you have kids that wear their hearts on their sleeves like that, as adults, you know he is a good guy… he is everybody’s coach, everybody’s teacher, he is the neighbor.. it was not a partisan speech… I loved the beginning when he said, growing up in a small town like that, you learn to take care of each other, the family down the road may not think like you do, pray like you do, may not love like you do but they are your neighbors and you look out for them.”
On MSNBC’s Special Coverage, Stephanie Ruhle: “It is how [Tim Walz] embodies the American dream. All the criticisms of our country and of the complaints – this guy grew up squarely in the middle class in Nebraska. He lost his dad, he went on to serve in the military, he became a teacher and a coach, and tonight he got on the stage at the DNC – forget your politics, it does not matter what you believe politically – that boy from Nebraska got on the stage, he might be the next vice president of the United States. If that is not the best of the American dream, then nothing is.”
On MSNBC’s Special Coverage, Chris Hayes: “[Governor Walz] has an incredible biography, he is an incredibly effective communicator. He is a professional, he did not just walk out of Mankato West yesterday, he is a political professional, he is a very deft political communicator and that was a 10 out of 10 effective speech in short period of time, established bio, vouched for Kamala Harris, did a lot about his record substantively and policy, laid out a very popular agenda for Kamala Harris, all while hitting the other party and other nominees, short and sweet, compact and effective, his inhibitable style. The guy is a supremely effective communicator.”
On MSNBC Special Coverage, Lawrence O’Donnell: “I can’t think of a better launch of a vice presidential campaign that we have seen, especially with… someone who was basically unknown a very short time ago to many…this speech goes throughout making very simple connections and that word, neighbor, keeps coming up. he makes it about neighbors, he does not talk about voters, he talks about neighbors and connecting with neighbors. that golden rule, mind your own dang business, he delivers with a freshness every time that is so effective and powerful, it is such a powerful theme about what this campaign is about.”
On CNN’s Special Coverage, Jake Tapper: “[Governor Walz] gave a hug to his son Gus who was in tears during his speech, as was his daughter. And to get an idea why Vice President Harris picked him with his fighting style and his down-home plain speaking style of the Nebraska and Minnesota national guard. A teacher and an assistant football coach and a six term congressman from a red district, a Republican district. And a two-term governor of Minnesota and taking the fight to Republicans and talking about the need for people to treat each other with dignity and care. It is a speech that here at the United Center, people are still on their feet in the rafters holding signs that say coach Walz – a barnburner of a speech.”
Dana Bash: “The entire speech was wrapped in language and words that people can relate to if they live in New York City or the midwest or they live in the pacific northwest or maybe in the middle of the country.”
On Fox News, Dana Perino: “He did great for him, for their crowd. I even followed the football metaphors. He is going to be a great wingman for Kamala Harris.”
On NBC News Now, Tom Llamas: “Savannah, it’s so hard to hear you right now, because people are cheering so loud. Governor Tim Walz just set this place on fire.”
On ABC’s News Live, David Muir: “Whether you like his politics or not for those, the millions watching across the country, you certainly got a sense of who he is…whether or not you agree, no matter where you are on the political spectrum, when you see a son and a daughter and the tears stream down their face, proud of their dad, it translates.”
On ABC’s News Live, Mary Bruce: “He shares that Clinton-esque ability to speak about politics in plain terms, he is that folksy dad in plaid, he wasn’t talking you know in sweeping politics, he was talking about those issues that matter most to Americans…it was his pep talk to his nation and I think you’re going to hear a lot more of that.”
On ABC’s News Live, Martha Raddatz: “He does resonate. We saw that in this trip. He resonates in Wisconsin, he resonates in Michigan, he resonates in those rural parts of Pennsylvania.”
On ABC’s News Live, Terry Moran: “[Vice President Harris] has to be thinking she made the right choice, he does so much for the party…the Democrats are making an argument here, an argument bolstered by Pete Butting talking about his dinner table and Wes Moore talking about his service, that they are the normal party.”
On CNN’s News Central, Congressman Dan Kildee: “I want people to get to know Tim Walz the way I know him. You know, when I arrived in Congress 12 years ago, Tim was sort of like the neighbor who… comes to your porch and brings you a plate of cookies. He was that friendly face who helped guide me through my first time, my first weeks and months in Congress… What you’ve seen with him on this stage and what I think we’ll see tonight is the very same Tim Walz that I got to know as a colleague in the House of Representatives when he was not a household name.”
On CBS’s America Decides, Governor Gretchen Whitmer: “I love Tim Walz. He’s just a really good human being who works hard, delivers for people, understands the real lived experience most Americans are going through, and I think he’s just such an asset to the ticket.”
On CNN’s The Lead, Senator Mark Kelly: “I think people will realize that he’s such a great guy. I’ve known Tim since around 2007. My wife, Gabby Giffords, and Tim, they were freshmen together in the U.S. House, so they got sworn in together. So I’ve known him for a while. He’s a patriot, he served in the Army National Guard for 24 years. He was a teacher, a coach, in the House of Representatives for 12 years, and then served two terms as governor and he’s just a really great person. And he’s a great candidate. And I think he’s going to be a great leader for our country.”
On CNN’s OutFront, Governor Andy Beshear: “Tim Walz is a great friend of mine. He’s a great man, he’s a great governor, and he helped me get reelected last year. We are all behind him. You see every other person that was considered up there on that stage, full-throated support of Governor Walz. He’s that good of a guy, that good of a leader.”
On CNN’s News Central, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison: “We’re talking about a really relatable fellow who really cares about public service. 24 years in the Army National guard, teacher, coach, and congressman, and now the governor, very successful governor. And he is animated by small-town values, which translate everywhere, whether it’s in the inner city of Minneapolis or the farms across the state of Minnesota or in the mining areas of our state. Tim can walk anywhere and find friends because he’s a friendly fellow, cares about people, and he’s a great listener.”
On MSNBC’s Deadline: White House, TN State Rep. Justin Jones: “The energy here is electric. People are fired up, they are energized. The amount of young people I have seen here…we know we are at a crossroads in our nation’s history where we can choose between going towards a multi-racial democracy or going toward the authoritarianism of a criminal and conman in Donald Trump.”
On MSNBC’s Special Coverage, Joy Reid: “You’ve got this incredible mix of people, including Republicans, who are all welcome to the barbecue, who everybody gets a plate no matter who you are, who you love, what you look like, what’s your color, your race, your religion. That is what the Democratic party has become in the modern era. The Democrats are the house party that everybody’s invited to.”
On MSNBC’s Special Coverage, Sen. Elizabeth Warren: “The consequence of this election could be ushering Donald Trump off the stage forever but what we’re going to build. Having Kamala now lead us, having Tim Walz, people who say, you know, ‘not all Americans are cut out of the same of cloth.’ ‘We live differently, worship differently, we love differently, but we can all thrive.’ And that’s the message. That’s the joyfulness of it. I look around this convention and I see it. I see a Democratic Party that looks like America. I love it.”
On CNN’s The Situation Room, Stephanie Grisham: “I have heard from some Republican women who have said ‘thank you so much for speaking out, I do not really like this man, it’s been hard for me as a Republican, I’m not sure what yo do, hearing your true experiences with him has been helpful.’ And so that’s been my schtick, right. Is that I was with him for 6 years, I know who he is as a person, and I really do think that will break through. I think that when people go into the privacy of the voting booth, I think that a lot of Republicans, especially women, will vote for Kamala Harris…The energy feels incredible here…Trump is all doom and gloom, only I can save the world…It’s just hits you over the head with how bad America is. This message has been one of come join us. And featuring Republicans every night is part of that. It’s been one of let’s move forward, let’s move on from this chaos. And I think that message is really going to resonate.”
On CNN’s The Situation Room, Geoff Duncan and Olivia Troye: “[Duncan] I know Donald Trump is the wrong fit for this country for a number of reasons. I am willing to talk to the Republicans that are going to be watching tonight and independents. That is my message. It is directly to them. [Troye] I think there are a lot of them out there because I’m hearing from them. Even the fact that they are seeing that Geoff Duncan is speaking, I’m speaking tonight, Adam Kinzinger is speaking this week, they watched Stephanie Grisham. I am getting notes from people saying, ‘hey, really glad to see this is happening. Keep going.’ We are Republicans and we are with you, and we want change, we want for our own party. This is a way forward, and we agree with that.”
On CNN’s The Situation Room, Sen. Klobuchar: “He is a humble guy. He comes from a humble background. I was thinking last night with Michelle Obama talking about that not everyone is blessed with generational wealth and can go bankrupt over and over again. This is a guy that came from a rural background, grew up on a farm, then becomes a teacher, joins the National Guard for 24 years, and then runs for Congress and governor. That’s basically, he had a life and worked hard before he served. ”
Online:
@StaceyAbrams: While the GOP in states like Georgia and Utah are banning our children’s books, @Tim_Walz worked to banish kids’ hunger. That’s the future we deserve. #DNC2024
@PhilMurphy: @Tim_Walz is the dad who knows every aisle of Home Depot. The football coach who won’t let any player fall behind. And the governor who ensures no child goes hungry at school.
He’s a standup guy. I can’t wait for America to get to know him as our next Vice President.
@Maura_Healey: If that speech from Coach @Tim_Walz didn’t get you fired up, nothing will! Go Team!
@AmyKlobuchar: We are here in Chicago getting ready for Minnesota’s own Tim Walz to introduce himself to the country tonight and make the case for November!
@MalloryMcMorrow: @Tim_Walz’ son standing and crying with joy and yelling to everyone, “That’s my dad!” This is family. This is America. This is beautiful.
@ClyburnSC06: All in for #CoachWalz!
@RepBrendanBoyle: Tonight @Tim_Walz is showing America exactly why he was the best pick to be the next Vice President of the United States. #DemConvention #DNC2024 #HarrisWalz
@DinaTitus: Coach @Tim_Walz knows what it takes to win and to lead. It’s time to leave it all on the field and elect a @KamalaHarris administration that will cut the cost of groceries, make housing affordable, and protect our rights.
@SarahLongwell: That [Walz] passed free lunches for kids in school was the number one thing swing voters knew about him. And they all liked it.
@HarryLitman: Just one person’s opinion, but in length, delivery, themes, biography, humor, integrity, principle, and personality, Walz just delivered a near-perfect acceptance speech.
In Print:
CBS: Walz enthusiasm high among Democrats, matching enthusiasm for Harris as VP pick 4 years ago
[Fred Backus]
As Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz prepares to officially introduce himself Wednesday night to the nation, Democratic voters are feeling good about Kamala Harris’ selection of Walz as her vice presidential nominee. Sixty percent of Democrats say they are enthusiastic about the selection of Walz, and almost all are at least satisfied.
Enthusiasm for Walz matches closely the enthusiasm that met Harris when she was chosen to be Joe Biden’s vice presidential running mate four years ago. Just before the Democratic National Convention in August 2020, 58% of Democratic voters said they were enthusiastic about her selection.
Enthusiasm for Walz among Democrats is higher than Republicans’ enthusiasm for JD Vance, who was announced as former President Donald Trump’s running mate in July during the Republican convention. Then, 51% of Republican voters said they were enthusiastic about Vance (though nearly all were at least satisfied).
The Hill: Walz revs up Democrats in emotional address
[Alex Gangitano]
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) leaned into his roots as a high school coach on Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention, and argued that Democrats have the right team to win in November.
“We’re driving down the field and boy, do we have the right team,” Walz said to a sea of red “Coach Walz” signs in the convention hall.
New York Times: For Tim Walz, the Convention Is Like Marrying Into a Very Large Family
[Reid J. Epstein]
Every Democrat in Chicago wants to meet him, and maybe give him a hug. “I love him,” one delegate said. “He reminds me of Chris Farley — you know, the man down by the river.” […]
After rising on a comet-like trajectory to become Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, Mr. Walz is finding himself the political equivalent of someone marrying into an extremely large family and meeting all the relatives for the first time.
Washington Post: Tim Walz bolstered by Clinton, Pelosi and Oprah in formal debut as Harris’s VP
[Matt Viser and Cleve R. Wootson Jr.]
CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz formally accepted the vice-presidential nomination on Wednesday, in a night that was designed to introduce him to the country as a teacher and a football coach, a father and a husband, a former congressman and current governor who now could be the nation’s No. 2. […]
The third day of the Democratic National Convention featured reproductive rights as a top issue that the party hopes will motivate voters in November, and later in the evening included boisterous speeches from former House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), former president Bill Clinton and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) — and a surprise appearance from Oprah Winfrey. They used Trump’s age against him, and they spoke more pointedly of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. They fixed their attention on GOP vice-presidential nominee JD Vance. And they insisted their ticket is the one focusing on joy and uplifting the nation.
NBC: Walz touts ‘freedom’ message and small-town roots as he accepts VP nomination
[Sahil Kapur]
CHICAGO — Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz introduced himself to his largest audience yet Wednesday as he capped off the third day of his party’s convention, touting his vision of “freedom” and excoriating the GOP.
“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 told the crowd. “But when we Democrats talk about freedom, we mean … freedom to make your own health care decisions, your kids’ freedom to go to school without worrying about being shot.”
Vice President Kamala Harris’ allies see in Walz a ticket-mate with the ability to speak to constituencies — rural white voters, especially men — who have fled the Democratic Party in recent years. He also brings experience to the ticket as a governor halfway through his second term and a House member for 12 years.
Walz highlighted his experiences as a teacher, football coach, veteran and gun owner from the stage, coming out to the tune of John Mellencamp’s “Small Town” and speaking of his early life being raised in a rural town of 400 people. Convention organizers distributed signs reading “Coach Walz” throughout the arena for his speech.
CBS: DNC Day 3: Tim Walz accepts VP nomination, rallying Democrats to fight in November
[Melissa Quinn, Caitlin Yilek]
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz formally accepted the vice presidential nomination on the third night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday, introducing himself to the nation with an impassioned speech that showcased his Midwest roots.
Deploying a folksy, no-holds-barred tone, Walz recounted his career as a public school teacher and his record as governor of Minnesota. He touted the progressive policies he implemented, including paid leave and protections for reproductive rights, and drew upon his experience as a high school football coach to rally Democrats to continue working to win over voters through Election Day.
CBS: Gov. Tim Walz, Democratic VP nominee, introduced by former student before DNC speech
[Riley Moser]
CHICAGO — A former student of Gov. Tim Walz had the honor of introducing him as the party’s vice presidential nominee Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Ben Ingman spoke before Walz, who had been Ingman’s seventh-grade basketball and track coach as well as his neighbor.
Ingman shared a story of how Walz took on the job as a basketball and track coach to help a high school student pay off their lunch debt.
“Coach Walz got us excited about what we might achieve together. He believed in us and he helped us believe in each other,” Ingman said.
Sixteen former Mankato West football players joined Ingham on stage ahead of Walz’s speech. Walz was an assistant coach for the football team, helping lead them to a state championship in 1999.
New York Times: Tim Walz, Accepting V.P. Nomination, Tells Democrats to ‘Leave It on the Field’
[Katie Glueck, Nicholas Nehamas, and Reid J. Epstein]
Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota offered himself as a bridge to disillusioned Americans who regard the Democratic Party as a bastion of coastal elitism, in a high-stakes address formally accepting the vice-presidential nomination on Wednesday night.
From the stage of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Mr. Walz completed his breathtaking transformation from little-known governor to leading party figure, accentuating his Midwestern roots and portraying the Democratic ticket as one that champions pragmatism and patriotism.
“We’re all here tonight for one beautiful, simple reason: We love this country,” he said.
Vanity Fair: “Coach” Tim Walz’s 2024 DNC Speech Was the Biggest Pep Talk of His Life
[Andrew Kirell]
Just a few weeks ago, if someone said Oprah Winfrey and Bill Clinton would be opening acts for Tim Walz, you’d have been forgiven for thinking, Tim who?
And yet, Wednesday evening, on the biggest stage of his life, Walz completed his remarkable transformation from relatively unknown governor of Minnesota to vice-presidential pick of a newly reinvigorated Democratic ticket alongside Kamala Harris.[…]
“I have not given a lot of big speeches like this,” Walz said, once again referencing his humble origins, “but I have given a lot of pep talks. So let me finish with this, team: It is the fourth quarter, we are down a field goal, but we are on offense and we’ve got the ball. We are driving down the field, and, boy, do we have the right team.”
He then hyped up his quarterback, so to speak. “Kamala Harris is tough, Kamala Harris is experienced, and Kamala Harris is ready. Our job, our job, our job,” Walz continued, gesturing to include even those watching at home, “is to get into the trenches and do the blocking and tackling. One inch at a time, one yard at a time, one phone call at a time, one door knock at a time, one five-dollar donation at a time.”
And then, crescendoing as throngs of attendees waved placards reading “Coach Walz,” he concluded: “Look, we’ve got 76 days, that is nothing. There will be time to sleep when you’re dead. We are going to leave it on the field. That is how we keep moving forward. That is how we turn the page on Donald Trump.”
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