CHICAGO: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz formally accepted the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nomination on Wednesday night, in a blunt but sharp speech in which he blasted former President Donald Trump as “crazy” and “dangerous” and claimed his Midwestern roots as proof of his candidate’s widespread appeal with voters.
“I’m ready to put an end to these guys,” Walz said of Trump and Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance, whom he accused of pursuing policies that benefit only the wealthiest and most radical people in the country.
“This is an agenda that nobody wants,” he said. “It’s an agenda that doesn’t help our neighbors in need. Is it crazy? It’s totally true. But it’s wrong and it’s dangerous.”
Walz, a former high school teacher and football coach who had never used a teleprompter before being selected as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, brought an energy that made him such a central figure in the national spotlight.
The speech posed the biggest test yet for the bubbly but outspoken governor, who in his 15 days on the campaign trail has aggressively challenged Trump with a mix of biting sarcasm and witty comments while also defending himself against Republican attacks on his military record.
Star power was on display on the third night of the Democratic National Convention, with Oprah Winfrey using her signature song to encourage Democrats to choose “joy,” and former President Bill Clinton appealing to nostalgia to underscore the party’s desire to move from the old to the new.
In her 28-minute speech, Clinton warned against complacency and overconfidence, saying Republicans “are very good at distracting us, sowing doubt and giving us regret after we buy.”
Nearly a quarter century after leaving office, Clinton acknowledged her age, saying she “has no idea how many more of these I’ll be able to participate in,” but noted that at 78, she is still a few months younger than Trump.
Also attending the evening’s rally were the party’s next generation of leaders, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who said his life as a married gay father has “went from impossible to possible, from possible to reality, from reality to pretty much normal, in less than half my life.”
Here’s what else you need to know:
Oprah’s surprise:
Democratic Party officials kept the talk-show host-turned-billionaire media mogul’s appearance a secret until moments before she took the stage after a screening of a short film she made of ordinary people talking about the American Dream. In her speech, she made her position clear, warning that “2024 will be about civility and respect” and calling on independents and undecided voters. “We are all Americans. Let’s all come together and elect Kamala Harris,” she said.
January 6:
The shocking footage of Trump supporters storming the Capitol in 2021 prompted a series of speeches warning of Trump’s refusal to accept the election results. The footage ended with the words, “Even if he’s reelected, he will never be held accountable.” Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi focused her speech on the January 6 attack. On that day, rioters specifically tried to break into Pelosi’s office, shouting her name and threatening her in the halls of Congress where she has served for more than 30 years.
Defending border policy:
Several speakers were vocal about the southern border, a topic long considered an advantage for Republicans. Speakers slammed Trump for persuading Republicans to kill a bipartisan border bill supported by Harris, calling it a cynical political calculation by the former president. “All he knows is how to tear families apart,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., one of several speakers who said Harris would balance border security with the humanitarian concerns of migrants seeking refuge.
A hostage’s family said:
The evening’s rally was filled with the same enthusiasm that has swept through the party since Harris emerged as the front-runner, but two speakers quieted the crowd: Rachel Goldberg and John Pollin, the parents of Hersh Goldberg Pollin, one of the Americans held hostage in Gaza since Oct. 7. “Hirsh, if you can hear us, we love you. Stay strong. Stay alive,” Goldberg said. The couple praised President Joe Biden and Harris for calling for the return of their son and the other hostages, even as protesters outside the convention site demanded more attention to Palestinians killed in Gaza.
Candidate in Danger:
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a political scion running as an independent and long seen as a possible disruptor in the race, is planning to end his struggling campaign this week and is in talks to endorse Trump, according to three people briefed on the plans. His campaign, which is cash-strapped and facing difficulties getting on the ballot in many states, has scheduled an event in Arizona for Friday.
Trump in North Carolina:
Trump and Vance campaigned in Asheboro, North Carolina, on Wednesday afternoon, focusing on national security issues in the state that Trump won twice. The Republican candidate appeared to have a strong position in North Carolina until Biden dropped out of the race last month and endorsed Harris, who had a narrow lead over Trump in the state in a recent New York Times/Siena College poll.
Published on 22 Aug 2024 08:23 IST
