Just a few weeks ago, if someone had said Oprah Winfrey And Bill Clinton will be the opening acts for Tim WalzYou would be forgiven for thinking, Who is Tim??
Yet on Wednesday night, on the biggest stage of his life, Walz completed his remarkable transformation from relatively unknown governor of Minnesota to vice presidential nominee of a reborn Democratic ticket alongside Kamala Harris.
The governor became famous for his eagerness to ridicule Donald Trump And JD Vance Known for labeling them and their ilk as “weird,” Walz has spawned countless memes and laid out a political strategy that has brought the party’s base back from the brink of despair. And Walz has not been shy about reminding the DNC crowd of his willingness to attack: He has criticized the supposedly “anti-elitist” Vance for his Yale background; mocked Trump for his leadership flaws and tendency to blame others; and, yes, called their agenda “weird,” but also “wrong and… dangerous.”
Throughout his speech, Walz relied heavily on the Midwestern “daddy in plaid” image — the man who goes out to John MellencampHis “small town”, how pitiful. His wife Gwen and two children, Expect And Gus teared up as he recounted his story, from National Guardsman to social studies teacher and state championship football coach to unlikely politician.
“Never underestimate public school teachers,” he said to thunderous applause.
But the speech reached its peak when it turned into a dramatic pre-match locker room motivational speech reminiscent of Al Pacinoit’s your turn Any Sunday.
“I haven’t given many big speeches like this,” Walz said, again referring to his humble origins, “but I’ve given many motivational speeches. So let me close with this, team: It’s the fourth quarter, we’re missing a field goal, but we’re on offense and we have the ball. We’re driving down the field, and, my gosh, we have the right team.”
Then he hyped his quarterback, so to speak. “Kamala Harris is strong, Kamala Harris is experienced, and Kamala Harris is ready. Our job, our job, our job,” Walz continued, gesturing to include those watching at home, “is to get in the trenches and make the block and tackle. Inch by inch, yard by yard, phone call by phone call, door by door knocker, five-dollar donation by dollar donation.”
And then, as the crowd waved signs that read “Coach Walz,” he concluded: “Look, we have 76 days, that’s nothing. There’s time to sleep when you die. We’re going to leave it on the field. That’s how we move forward. That’s how we turn the page on Donald Trump.”
