VP nominee Walz offers playbook of middle class, Midwestern values at Chicago DNC

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz pitched his Midwestern roots on a Chicago stage Wednesday on the third night of the Democratic National Convention, promising an administration committed to “the responsibility we have to our kids and to each other” — and warning of the “dangerous” consequences of a second term for former President Donald Trump.

During a star-studded program that saw former President Bill Clinton return to the city where he was re-nominated in 1996 and Oprah Winfrey hail Kamala Harris as “the best of America” — Walz introduced himself to voters as a former teacher, football coach and Army National Guardsman who stumbled upon political superstardom.

“Never underestimate a public school teacher,” Walz said to cheers.

In a short speech, he hit on the highlights of why he was chosen to serve as Harris’ running mate — his small town upbringing, his dedication to coaching and teaching and a genuine understanding of the middle class. The crowd waved “Coach Walz" signs and chanted “coach” during his address.

Walking onstage to John Mellencamp’s “Small Town,” Walz talked up legislation he championed as Minnesota governor to tackle medical debt that he said strained his family while growing up in Butte, Nebraska, “a town of 400 people.”

“I had 24 kids in my high school class. And none of ‘em went to Yale,” he said, poking at his Ivy League-educated counterpart, GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance.

“That’s what this is all about: the responsibility we have to our kids, to each other, and to the future we’re building together, in which everyone is free to build the kind of life they want,” Walz said. “But some folks just don’t understand what it takes to be a good neighbor.”

Walz said they have a "golden rule" in Minnesota when it comes to reproductive rights: "Mind your own damn business."

Walz pointed to his coaching experience in warning voters about the ultra-conservative Project 2025, a GOP blueprint for a second Trump administration that the Republican nominee has worked to disassociate himself from.

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it,” Walz said. “It’s an agenda that does nothing for our neighbors in need. Is it weird? Absolutely. But it’s also wrong. It’s dangerous.”

Walz also boosted his running mate in a heavily football-themed address that was preceded by an appearance from some of his former players in their jerseys.

“Team, it is the fourth quarter, we are down a field goal, but we are on offense and we’ve got the ball.” Walz said. “We are driving down the field. And, boy, do we have the right team, Kamala Harris is tough, Kamala Harris is experienced, and Kamala Harris is ready."

Earlier, Clinton seemed to bask in his return to the spotlight while praising Kamala Harris as the choice with the vision, the experience, the temperament, the will and, yes, the sheer joy” to lead the country.

Clinton, the “explainer in chief,” as former President Barack Obama has called him, went off script for much of his 28-minute speech, offering up anecdotes and jokes about former Trump’s age, ego and his obsession with crowd sizes.

“The only personal vanity I want to assert is I’m still younger than Donald Trump,” said Clinton, 78 — who’s only two months Trump’s junior.

He offered up details of Harris’ background as a former prosecutor, attorney general and senator as proof that she’d create a “more inclusive, more future-focused” country — and he called Harris the candidate with “the sheer joy, to get something done.”

“Look. What does her opponent do with his voice? He mostly talks about himself. So, the next time you hear him, don’t count the lies, count the ‘I’s,” Clinton said.

“He is like the tenors opening up before he goes on stage, like I did, by saying, ‘me, me, me, me, me.’ When Kamala Harris is president, every day will begin with you, you, you, you,” Clinton said.

Wednesday’s lengthy list of speakers featured several celebrities on Day Three focused on protecting freedoms, including abortion rights.

Winfrey, a surprise guest, spoke about the need to protect freedoms in America. She also spoke directly to independent and undecided voters and urged them to “choose loyalty to the Constitution over loyalty to an individual.”

“Values and character matter most of all — in leadership and in life,” Winfrey said. “Decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024. And just plain common sense, common sense tells you that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz can give us decency and respect.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Harris “a courageous leader, a compassionate leader and a common-sense leader who will deliver real results for all Americans.”

Then he likened Trump to “an old boyfriend who you broke up with, but he just won’t go away.”

“Bro, we broke up with you for a reason,” he said to cheers. “Donald Trump can spin the block all he wants, but there’s no reason for us to ever get back together. Been there, done that.”

And quoting pop superstar Taylor Swift, Jeffries declared: “We are never, ever, ever getting back together."

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, widely viewed as the key power player in persuading Biden to drop out of the race, started by thanking him and asserting Harris “is ready to take us to new heights.” She then set her targets on Trump.

“Let us not forget who assaulted democracy on Jan. 6. He did. But let’s not forget who saved democracy that day. We did. Thank God we had a Democratic House of Representatives that day,” Pelosi said.