EAU CLAIRE, WIS. – Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz held their first joint rally in the Midwest on Wednesday, telling more than 12,000 people who gathered in the battleground state of Wisconsin that America cannot withstand another Donald Trump presidency.
Walz was in friendly territory in his neighboring state, receiving a thunderous ovation and praise from top Wisconsin Democrats who spoke before him. Harris told the crowd that Wisconsin will play a pivotal role in this year’s presidential election.
“The path to the White House runs right through this state, and with your help, we will win in November,” Harris said. “We are going to win.”
Their outdoor rally held in the farm country of Eau Claire was the second since Harris announced Walz as her running mate. A Harris-Walz rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday night drew 10,000 inside the venue and 4,000 outside. Harris and Walz are in the midst of a jam-packed schedule of stops in competitive battleground states.
It was Harris’ second stop in Wisconsin since President Joe Biden left the race. Trump’s vice-presidential running mate, Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance, also traveled to Eau Claire on Wednesday to counter the Democrats’ messaging.
Vance delivered his remarks on a warehouse floor in front of employees of Wollard International, an Eau Claire-based manufacturer of aviation ground support equipment. A few dozen employees stood behind him, and an American flag and banners for the military hung above his podium.
After a brief speech, Vance fielded questions from reporters — something he noted the Harris campaign has refused to do since President Joe Biden announced plans to step down.
Vance barely mentioned Biden, instead levying criticism at the “Harris administration” on its handling of a breadth of issues — immigration, the opioid crisis, inflation and trade policy.