How have Trump and Vance gone after Walz?published at 22:40 British Summer Time 7 August 2024

22:40 BST 7 August 2024

Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent

The Trump campaign has already branded him a "dangerously liberal extremist" and a “far-left lunatic”.

They point to Tim Walz’s record in Minnesota of enacting progressive social programmes and accuse him of not doing enough to control the demonstrations that broke out after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers in 2020.

At the very least, Republicans may welcome not having to face off against Josh Shapiro, who has a more centrist profile and might have given Kamala Harris a decisive boost in Pennsylvania.

JD Vance, Walz's Republican adversary for the vice-presidency, said Harris's choice of running mate shows she is willing to "bend the knee to the most radical elements of her party".

Trump, meanwhile, said Walz will unleash "HELL ON EARTH and open our borders to the worst criminals imaginable".

But even if Walz provides a more inviting target for Republicans, making that rhetoric stick on his friendly, meat-and-potatoes persona will be no easy task for the Trump campaign.

Ana Faguy

BBC News spoke with Democratic voter Mary Mendenhall from New York.

Mendenhall said she would have reluctantly voted for Mr Biden and Ms Harris, but now she's excited by the Harris-Walz ticket.

"I'm cautiously optimistic, I know it's going to be difficult, but Walz compared to Vance - there's really no comparison," the 34 year old said.

"It's amazing how within a matter of a few weeks the outlook for the election really turned around."

Image source, EPA

Tim Walz served 12 years in Congress before becoming Minnesota governor in 2018.

He has gained national attention for his strategy of calling Donald Trump and JD Vance "weird".

The phrase caught on with a number of Democrats - including Kamala Harris. "He's just a strange, weird dude," Walz said of Trump during a fundraising event.

Minnesota is not much of a swing state, but Walz’s Midwest background could be a valuable asset for Harris in states across the region where the race is tighter.

His plainspoken and small-town persona could appeal to independent and conservative voters.

The 60-year-old led Minnesota through the 2020 protests over George Floyd's death in Minneapolis

He deployed the National Guard to help quell riots that broke out during the demonstrations.

Walz served 20 years in the National Guard, taught high school and also worked as an assistant football coach.

At the rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin earlier, Kamala Harris began by praising President Joe Biden, saying she is "deeply grateful for his lifetime of service to our nation".

The crowd then chants "Thank you, Joe."

In Eau Claire, Wisconsin, supporters queued in a miles-long line earlier for a chance to see Kamala Harris at a rally alongside her new vice-presidential pick, Tim Walz.

They were also able to get a glimpse at other stars as well. Grammy-winning indie folk band Bon Iver, whose lead singer Justin Vernon is from Eau Claire, played at the rally.

Vernon has been known to support Democratic candidates - he played at a Bernie Sanders rally in 2020.

Harris has recruited a number of other popular musicians - including Megan Thee Stallion - to collaborate with her campaign.

Earlier, when JD Vance landed in Wisconsin, his plane parked on the same tarmac as Air Force 2, the plane belonging to Vice President Harris.

He stopped to talk with reporters and pointed to Harris's plane.

"Hopefully it's going to be my plane in a few months," he said in front of the cameras.

Harris says that she and Tim Walz's campaign "will reach out to everyone" in the US.

"From red states to blue states, to the heartland to the coast," she says. "When elected, we will govern on behalf of all Americans."

"Because coach Walz and I know: we work for you, the American people, and we will always fight for you."

She then concludes by appealing to the crowd to knock on doors, energise the campaign and "make your voices heard".

Harris referenced the July Supreme Court decision granting presidential immunity.

"Think about what that court decision means. Donald Trump has openly vowed if re-elected he will be a dictator on day one," she said.

Harris claims Trump will weaponise the Justice Department against his political enemies, throw peaceful protesters out of the country and terminate the US Constitution.

"Someone who suggests we should terminate the Constitution of the United States should never again have a chance to stand behind the seal of the President of the United States," she said.

Harris continues to position her party as one that fights "for the future" and "for freedom".

She says she has witnessed a "full-on assault against hard-won freedoms and rights" like the right to vote, "to be safe from gun violence" and "to love who you love openly and with pride".

And, she says forcefully: "the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government telling her what to do."

Harris references Project 2025 and calls it "a plan to weaken the middle class".

She said if former President Donald Trump is elected, he will give tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations, cut Social Security and Medicare, surrender in the fight against the climate crisis and end the Obama-era Affordable Care Act.

"We understand what that means. That's about taking us back," she says.

The crowd begins chanting "we're not going back!"

"We're not going back," Harris echoes.

Project 2025 was created by the Heritage Foundation and runs for more than 900 pages.

Trump has disavowed Project 2025, though critics have pointed out it was led by former officials in his administration. You can read more about it here.

In her speech, Harris appears to draw a contrast between her campaign and that of her opponent's.

She says that she and Tim Walz are "joyful warriors".

"Because we know while fighting for a bright future might be hard work, hard work is good work," she says.

"And so, we will continue to fight."

Harris then outlines her plan for the economy "to lower costs down for middle class families," as well as her aim to bring manufacturing jobs back to communities like Eau Claire.

"Coach Walz and I know when America's middle class is strong, America is strong," she says, repeating her now oft-used nickname for her running mate.

Harris reiterates how she's dealt with individuals like Trump for her whole career.

The crowd began chanting "lock him up" in response.

"The courts are going to handle that part of it. What we're going to do is beat him in November," she says.

Image source, Reuters

Harris lays out Walz's resume, from his time as a teacher to his days coaching football, calling him "coach" - a nickname that the crowd begins chanting.

"In 90 days the nation will know Coach Walz by a new title: vice president of the United States of America."

She then says "it is good to be back in Wisconsin".

"The path to the White House runs right through this state."

Harris gets into her history as a courtroom prosecutor and attorney general, using it to attack her opponent Donald Trump.

She says she took on "predators who abuse women, fraudsters who ripped off consumers, scammers who broke the rules for personal game."

"Hear me when I say, I know Donald Trump's type," she says.

Kamala Harris starts her speech by acknowledging the public service of President Joe Biden.

"I want to bring greetings from our incredible President Joe Biden. He loves Wisconsin," Harris said.

She acknowledged his lifetime of service to the nation and for all he continues to do.

"Thank you Joe!" the crowd chanted.

Walz has finished his speech and now Kamala Harris has walked on to the stage.

She gets a huge applause.

You can watch live at the top of this page.

Image source, Reuters

Walz is speaking again after that pause to help a crowd member. He accuses Republicans of wanting to infringe on people's personal freedoms.

He then leans on his Minnesota roots, saying: "We're pretty neighbourly with Wisconsin, we got our friendly battles... but we respect our neighbours and the personal choices that they make, even if we wouldn't make the same choices for ourselves."

He says there's a golden rule: "Mind your own damn business."

Walz then recounts his family's story of using IVF for years to conceive his first child, whom he named Hope.

He tells the crowd that if he and Harris were to be elected, they would want to give Americans "the freedom to make your own healthcare decisions".

Walz has paused for several minutes during his speech to help someone in the crowd who was struggling in the heat.

He called for help for an individual and asked his team to bring water to those in the crowd.

The weather forecast in Eau Claire is 78F (25.6C). Walz advised the crowd to make sure they were staying hydrated.

"This is about taking care of our neighbours, not name-calling," he said.

Tim Walz is now addressing supporters in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

He starts by saying: "Isn't it good to have a candidate who can pronounce the name correctly?" - a remark that was met with a big applause.

Walz then praises the state's governor, Tony Evers as the "kindest human being I've ever met".

He also gives a nod to senator Tammy Baldwin, the state's attorney general and other public figures in Wisconsin who are present at the rally.

Walz then repeats what he said at yesterday's Pennsylvania rally: "I couldn't be prouder to be on this ticket to help make Kamala Harris the next president of the United States."