CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a former high school teacher raised in rural Nebraska, spoke to the biggest audience of his political career on Wednesday as he formally accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president on the third night of the party’s convention in Chicago. “It’s the honor of my life to accept your nomination for vice president of the United States,” he said.
“We’re all here tonight for one beautiful, simple reason: We love this country. ..
. Thank you for bringing the joy to this fight.” The speech was a major test of Vice President Kamala Harris’ decision to choose the gregarious — and formerly little-known — Midwestern governor as her running mate just 15 days earlier, and it was the biggest chance yet for Walz to introduce himself to the nation.
Still, Walz’s remarks capped a long night in the convention hall, beginning after 11:20 p.m. Eastern time — well out of television’s prime time.
Although popular at home, Walz did not have much of a national profile until he critiqued Republican nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, as being “weird.” That one word proved surprisingly effective in confounding a former president known for name-calling, and it catapulted the blunt-speaking Walz into the national spotlight.
His remarks focused on his small-town upbringing, and he walked onto the stage to the John Mellencamp song “Small Town” as the crowd chanted, “Coach! Coach! Coach!” He emphasiz.