Chicago – On Wednesday night, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz took the stage at the Democratic National Convention to accept his party’s nomination for vice president. In his speech, he expressed his gratitude to the packed arena for their support and for bringing joy to an election that has been transformed by the elevation of his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“We are all here tonight for one beautiful, simple reason: We love this country,” Walz said as thousands of delegates held up vertical placards reading “Coach Walz” in red, white, and blue.
Walz shared his humble upbringing in Nebraska and his experience teaching and coaching football in Minnesota. He thanked the crowd for bringing joy to the fight for a better America. He also took a dig at his Republican counterpart, JD Vance, by highlighting the difference between their backgrounds. “I had 24 kids in my high school class, and none of them went to Yale,” he said.
One of the most touching moments of Walz’s speech was when he talked about the difficulty he and his wife faced in conceiving their daughter, Hope. As he spoke, Hope made a heart with her hands and held it over her chest. His son, Gus, was moved to tears as he watched his father speak and even shouted, “That’s my dad!” at one point.
Walz admitted that he hasn’t given many speeches like this before, but he has given plenty of pep talks as a coach. His positive and motivational tone was evident throughout his speech as he rallied Democrats to continue the momentum that Harris has brought to the party since becoming the first female vice presidential nominee.
The Democratic National Convention in Chicago’s United Center was filled with hope and excitement as they showcased the diversity and unity of the party. The goal is to harness the exuberance and energy of the Democratic supporters while also acknowledging the fierce battle they face against former President Donald Trump.
Before Harris chose Walz as her running mate, many Americans had never heard of him. But in his first weeks of campaigning, he has charmed supporters with his background and helped to balance Harris’ coastal upbringing as a cultural representative of Midwestern states, whose voters are crucial in this fall’s election.
However, Walz has also faced scrutiny, including questions about embellishing his background. His wife clarified this week that she did not undergo in vitro fertilization, as Walz has repeatedly claimed, but used other fertility treatments. Republicans have also criticized him for a comment he made in 2018 about carrying weapons in war. Although he served in the National Guard for 24 years, he did not deploy to a war zone.
One of Walz’s former high school students, Benjamin C. Ingman, introduced him to the stage. Many of Walz’s former football players, dressed in their red and white jerseys, also joined him on stage. The crowd cheered as they helped to introduce the man who has been affectionately referred to as “Coach Walz” by many speakers, including Harris.
Former President Bill Clinton also took the stage at the convention, denouncing Trump as selfish and praising Harris for her focus on the needs of Americans. Clinton’s trademark off-the-cuff remarks fired up the crowd, and he was meant to add weight to the third night of the convention, which was headlined by Walz’s introduction to a national audience.
Clinton, who is a veteran of his party’s political conventions, was once dubbed the “secretary of explaining stuff” by former President Barack Obama. His delivery may have been slower, and he may have stumbled over Harris’ first name, but he still delivered a powerful speech. He even used his signature homespun style to criticize Trump, saying, “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.”
Oprah Winfrey, who hosted her iconic TV talk show from Chicago for many years, also took the stage and scoffed at Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance’s derogatory comments about “childless cat ladies.” She reminded the audience that in a time of need, Americans would still come together to help one another, regardless of their political beliefs.
The theme of the night was “a fight for our freedoms,” with speakers highlighting issues such as abortion access and other rights that Democrats are determined to defend. They made it clear that while the Democratic Party stands for defending freedoms, the Republican Party
