Election 2024 live updates: Harris to name her VP pick today; Vance holds rally in Philadelphia
NBCAug 16
Kamala Harris, Tim Walz Hold First Rally Together
Above: Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, and Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential contender, appeared together on stage for the first time during a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 6, 2024. Image copyright: Alex Wong/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
2024 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her vice presidential running mate Tim Walz held their first joint campaign event Tuesday evening in Philadelphia, Pa. This came the same day Harris publicly announced the Minnesota governor would be on her ticket.
At the rally, Harris said she chose Walz because he's a "leader who will help unite our nation" and a "fighter for the middle class." She cited his past career as a teacher and a coach as reasons for her choice.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Walz's background is impeccable, having started in a small town in Nebraska before becoming a teacher and serving in both the military and Congress. He's also a two-term governor whose midwestern background pairs perfectly with the diverse campaign America is looking for. While Vance tries to label Walz as an extreme liberal, it's important to note that Walz represented a conservative district in Congress, meaning he knows how to speak to red and blue America.
Republican narrative
Harris is trying to trick voters into thinking she chose a real small town American as her running mate. However, once you look past the campaign propaganda, you realize he's an economic socialist and backs opening the country up to illegal immigrants, destroying the energy industry, and allowing doctors to perform transgender surgery on kids. She also chose him over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to try and appeal to the anti-Jewish faction of the party.