Chicago August 22—Tim Walz has formally accepted his nomination to be the Democrats vice presidential candidate in November’s US election, rallying the party faithful in Chicago with a message of freedom and hope.
“It’s the honour of my life to accept your nomination for vice president of the United States,” Walz said on Wednesday night, as he took to the stage at the end of the third day of the Democratic National Convention. “What all we’re all here tonight for one beautiful, simple reason. We love this country.”
Walz, the 60-year-old governor of Minnesota, was a relative unknown until Kamala Harris picked him as her running mate just over two weeks ago.
Walz talked of his upbringing in a town of just 400 people in Nebraska, his service with the National Guard and his experience as a teacher.
He stressed the importance of preserving personal freedoms, taking a swipe at Republicans who have rolled back abortion rights, adding that in his experience most Americans considered such issues to be private matters.
“We respect our neighbours and the personal choices that they make,” he said of his Midwestern community. “And even if we would not make those choices for ourselves, we have one rule: ‘Mind your own damn business.’”
The crowd, many holding “Coach Walz” banners in reference to his years coaching football, cheered and waved.
Freedom was the theme of the third day of the convention with Democratic luminaries such as former President Bill Clinton taking the stage, as well as celebrities from singers Stevie Wonder to John Legend to comedian Mindy Kaling and media personality Oprah Winfrey.
Many Republicans said they were relieved at Mr Walz’s selection, as they feared the appeal Mr Shapiro would have in key battleground Pennsylvania.
And they’ve already been on the attack against the Minnesota governor – criticising what they view as too-liberal policies as governor and contending that he not only misrepresented the nature of his family’s fertility treatments but also his rank in the Minnesota National Guard. However they haven’t yet found a way to dent his coaching record.
The four-day party extravaganza will culminate on Thursday evening when Vice-President Kamala Harris formally accepts the Democratic nomination, a little over a month after President Joe Biden stepped out of the race.
