(NEXSTAR) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accepted his party's nomination for vice president at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday and made the case that he's ready to win the 2024 race alongside his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“We're all here tonight for one simple, beautiful reason: We love this country," Walz told the packed arena.
Many Americans had never heard of Walz until Harris plucked him from relative obscurity to join her ticket. His goofy, folksy, Midwestern dad aura has endeared him to Democrats and balanced Harris' coastal background.
During his speech, Walz described his upbringing in Nebraska, as well as teaching and coaching football in Minnesota.
“I haven't given a lot of speeches like this, but I've given a lot of pep talks,” he said.
"Let me finish with this, team. It’s the fourth quarter. We’re down a field goal. But we’re on offense and we’ve got the ball," Walz continued, hailing Harris as the team leader. "Our job for everyone watching is to get in the trenches and do the blocking and tackling, one inch at a time, one yard at a time, one phone call at a time, one door knock at a time."
In the intense scrutiny that comes with a presidential campaign, Walz has faced repeated questions about embellishing his background. His wife, Gwen Walz, this week clarified that she did not undergo in vitro fertilization but used other fertility treatments after Republicans pointed to multiple times her husband talked publicly about his family's reliance on IVF. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, called Tim Walz a liar.
Republicans have also pointed to a 2018 comment in which Walz refers to weapons “that I carried in war” while talking about gun violence. Though he served in the National Guard for 24 years, Walz did not deploy to a war zone.
Former President Bill Clinton, who also headlined the DNC's third night, walked out to Coldplay's "Fix You." Like other speakers at this week's convention, Clinton began his speech by praising President Joe Biden. He compared Biden to George Washington, suggesting that Biden strengthened his legacy by deciding to end his reelection campaign.
"Remember, he had an improbable turn that made him president, and we were in the middle of a pandemic and an economic crash. He healed our sick and put the rest of us back to work," Clinton said. "And then he did something that's really hard for a politician to do. He voluntarily gave up political power."
The 42nd president later endorsed Harris and Walz, saying they'll bring in a "breath of fresh air."
"We need Kamala Harris, the president of joy, to lead us," he said.
Convention organizers dubbed the theme for Wednesday “a fight for our freedoms," a nod to the concept around which Harris has organized her campaign. She frames her Republican opponent as a threat to abortion rights and personal choices, but also to democracy itself.
Trump, meanwhile, has bashed the convention as a “charade” and noted the fact that he has been a frequent topic of conversation.
When Oprah Winfrey addressed the DNC crowd Wednesday night, she scoffed at Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, for the viral "childless cat ladies" remark he made when he argued that Americans should be having more children.
Winfrey said that if a burning house belonged to a “childless cat lady,” neighbors would still help and “try to get that cat out too.”
The famed television host also urged undecided voters to back the Democratic nominee, saying that "decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024."
"You’re looking at a registered independent who’s proud to vote again and again and again, because that’s what Americans do," she said. "Voting is the best of America.”
Hours beforehand, music legend Stevie Wonder appeared onstage to give a brief speech before singing “Higher Ground.” He asked the audience, “Are y’all ready to reach a higher ground? Because you know we need Kamala Harris.” John Legend also performed “Let’s Go Crazy” by late icon and Minnesota native Prince ahead of Walz's primetime speech.
Harris is working to stitch together a broad coalition in her bid to defeat Trump this fall. She is drawing on prominent figures such as former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Hollywood stars, officials from across the political spectrum — from the far left to the center — and even some Republicans to strengthen her campaign.
“So much is on the line in this election,” Harris said Tuesday in Milwaukee, where she spoke at a professional basketball arena in battleground Wisconsin as the convention continued 90 miles away in Chicago. “And understand, this not 2016 or 2020. The stakes are higher.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
