Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her newly announced running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are hitting the campaign trail hard this week, barnstorming seven cities in five days.
The new Harris-Walz ticket drew thousands of supporters to their first rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Less than 24 hours later, they are campaigning in Wisconsin.
After Eau Claire, Wis., the pair is scheduled to hit up Detroit; Durham, N.C.; Savannah, Ga., and Phoenix before rounding out the week in Las Vegas on Saturday. The Harris-Walz campaign advised that the Georgia and North Carolina stops could be affected by Tropical Storm Debby.
“In addition to holding rallies in each location along the tour, at venues ranging from big arenas to college campuses, including HBCUs, the vice president and her running mate will also take the time to meet with voters in smaller, more intimate settings, including union halls, family-owned restaurants, campaign field offices, and more,” the campaign said in an outline of the plans.
“These stops will highlight the ticket’s strength in the Blue Wall and Sunbelt, from urban areas to rural communities. At each stop, our new ticket will be joined by local elected officials, union members, faith leaders and more.”
The top-of-the-ticket duo will be feted at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago Aug. 19-22. Walz will speak on the third night of the gathering, while Harris is slated to deliver a formal acceptance speech on the final night.
Polls have shown Democrats closing the gap on former President Trump and his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance since President Biden ended his reelection campaign on July 21. Biden endorsed Harris, and the party quickly rallied around her as the new 2024 nominee.
Harris’s VP shortlist came down to Walz, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. Shapiro and Kelly both have won statewide elections in crucial battlegrounds, but insiders credited the quick rapport Harris developed with Walz and the Minnesota governor’s policy record for her ultimate decision.
Trump says he is “thrilled” by Harris’s pick. Trump and his top allies already have set out to paint the little-known Midwestern governor as a radical liberal.
