LAS VEGAS — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz saw a sudden change of pace last week when Vice President Kamala Harris gave him the nod to serve as her running mate.
“Not a normal week,” Walz said in a Sunday, Aug. 11 video posted to X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. “[The week] started out missing a call from the Vice President, a pretty important one … After that, it has been a whirlwind.”
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Week 1 done and it was one for the history books. Some thoughts from the road.
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz)
Harris and Walz wasted no time last week, hitting the campaign trail hard with five appearances: Philadelphia; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Detroit; Glendale, Arizona; and Las Vegas.
“We got on the plane and flew to Philly and they told me that in an hour I’d be giving a speech and there’d be a teleprompter, something I’d never used in my life,” Walz said. “So [I was] certainly terrified, but was lifted up by the folks in Philly — my goodness there’s so much energy there, so much positivity.”
Tens of thousands of Democrats showed up to see Harris and Walz speak at each of the five cities, with the Associated Press estimating 12,000-15,000 people in attendance at each of the presumptive Democratic nominees’ rallies.
“[We’re seeing] record crowds of people gathering, and they’re joining us for one simple reason: They love democracy and they love this country,” Walz said, “And as Vice President Harris says, they believe in the promise of America.”
And, as Walz put it: “We’re just getting this thing started.”
In his first solo campaign event, Walz will travel to six cities across the country this week in what the campaign is calling a “fundraising blitz.”
On Tuesday, he’ll start off in Los Angeles, where he’ll speak to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the organization’s annual convention. That evening, he’ll travel an hour south for a Harris-Walz campaign reception in Newport Beach.
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On Wednesday, Walz will appear at similar events in Denver and Boston before traveling to campaign receptions in Newport, Rhode Island and Southampton, New York.
It’s unclear at which events Harris may join Walz, if any.
Walz’s travel on the campaign trail comes as Republican vice president hopeful J.D. Vance has also hit the road in many of the same swing states as the Harris-Walz campaign, with running mate Donald Trump notably absent.
The Trump campaign is set to rally in Asheville, North Carolina on Wednesday.
The Trust Project
