LA CROSSE, WIS. – Gov. Tim Walz began making his final pitch for a Kamala Harris presidency on Monday to voters in the critical “blue wall” states that Harris almost certainly needs to win to be elected to the White House.
‘The blue wall must hold’: Gov. Tim Walz rallies in Wisconsin, Michigan on eve of election
Walz campaigned across Wisconsin on Monday and was set to hold rallies in Milwaukee and Detroit, Mich., in the evening. Trump’s running mate, Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance, held his own rally in La Crosse on Monday.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
November 4, 2024 at 11:33PM
Walz and First Lady Gwen Walz gave an emotional goodbye to a crowd of their closest supporters at the airport on Monday morning before departing for Wisconsin. It was Walz’s last time in Minnesota before Election Day.
The DFL governor’s final vice presidential campaign swing of the election began with a get-out-the-vote event in La Crosse late Monday morning. Walz told a packed room of supporters that this election is “a generational opportunity for us to turn the page.” He urged the crowd to talk to everyone they know, especially men, about the choice in this election.
”I would ask you in this moment to think about the women in your lives that you love,” Walz said, describing how abortion rights have been under attack by Republicans. “They’re more at risk than they’ve ever been.”
A couple hours later, Walz addressed a lively crowd of a few hundred people at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He said “we’re not going back” to a time when women can’t make their own health care choices.
”Let’s stand on the right side of history,” he said.
Walz then departed to Milwaukee for a rally. He’ll fly to Michigan after that for a late-evening rally in Detroit with musical guest Jon Bon Jovi.
On Tuesday morning, Walz will make his final campaign stop in Harrisburg, Pa., before departing to Washington, D.C., for the campaign’s election night watch party at Howard University, Harris’ alma mater.
As Walz and his family left Minnesota on Monday morning, more than 100 supporters — including top Democrats such as Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar — lined up to give him a send-off. Walz greeted and embraced many of his supporters before waving goodbye and getting on the plane.
Klobuchar traveled with Walz to La Crosse and gave opening remarks at the event, praising the governor: “In the Midwest, we love a dad in plaid.”
Klobuchar sought to make the case for Harris, saying she’d be a president focused on getting things done. Former President Donald Trump, on the other hand, would be focused on his “enemies list,” Klobuchar said.
The presidential election is headed toward a nail-biting end with polls showing Harris and Trump deadlocked in most battleground states. Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania are once again expected to play a decisive role. Trump won the three states in 2016 before they flipped to Joe Biden in 2020.
”The blue wall must hold,” Walz said in Stevens Point.
Wisconsin and Michigan are familiar territory for the Minnesota governor. Democrats have hoped Walz’s folksy demeanor and background as a former soldier, teacher and football coach would boost Harris’ appeal in Midwest swing states.
The governor mixed in riffs about the Midwest during his Wisconsin speeches, giving a shout out to Kwik Trip and joking about the small size of the Nebraska town he grew up in.
Walz said it’s possible Wisconsin will be the state that decides the election.
”I have one request for you Wisconsin: Win this thing for America,” he said.
Walz would be in historic company if he and Harris win on Tuesday. The governor would join Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale as the only Minnesotans to ascend to the vice presidency.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance, held his own rally in La Crosse on Monday. He said “tomorrow is the big day when we are going to vote in very big numbers in the state of Wisconsin.”
”We’re going to win this thing,” he said.
Vance also jokingly asked rally goers to pray for Walz.
”He’s got to go around and convince the American people that Kamala Harris can be the president of the United States. That’s tough work,” Vance said.
This is a developing story. Return to StarTribune.com for updates.
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump made their final pitches to voters Monday in the same part of Pennsylvania at roughly the same time, spending the last full day of the presidential campaign in a state that could make or break their chances.
