Harris-Walz rally live: Kamala Harris shuts down pro-Palestine protesters at Detroit rally

Kamala Harris shut down hecklers trying to interrupt her speech at a Detroit rally on Wednesday, telling them, “I’m speaking.”

Harris and running mate Tim Walz were in the Michigan city to address a crowd, many of them union members, alongside United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain and fellow Democrats like Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

During the vice president’s speech, a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators briefly interrupted, chanting: “We won’t vote for genocide.”

“You know what? If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that,” Harris responded, to cheers from the crowd. “Otherwise, I’m speaking.”

Onstage, Harris argued that her background prosecuting sex crimes and financial fraud made her familiar with Donald Trump’s “type.”

“I proudly put my record against his any day of the week,” she said.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden held his first interview since exiting the race and warned that Donald Trump could trigger a “bloodbath” if he refuses to concede a loss in the 2024 presidential election.

Key Points

• Harris shuts down group of pro-Palestinian activists at rally

• Polls show Harris moving ahead of Trump nationally but key battlegrounds still up for grabs

• Whitmer says it’s time for a ‘strong woman’ in the White House

• Fain accuses Trump of being a ‘scab’ and Vance of being a ‘vulture’

• Chants of ‘Thank you, Joe!’ break out at Detroit rally

• Walz and Harris tour battleground states with Trump and Vance tailing behind

• Harris-Walz camo hat attracts huge interest online

• Detroit rally interrupted by multiple calls for medics

What the polls tell us about the 2024 race

02:00 , Josh Marcus

Kamala Harris appears to be pulling ahead of Donald Trump in presidential election polling for the first time, with the Democrat taking a three-point lead over the Republican former president in a new survey.

A poll for NPR, PBS and Marist published on Wednesday places the Vice President on 51 per cent of the vote overall, compared to Trump’s 48 per cent, and comes after her choice of Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate was met with an overwhelmingly positive response.

Harris also leads Trump on abortion by a huge 15 per cent margin, although the latter has a six-point advantage over the former when it comes to illegal immigration, suggesting MAGA attacks on the Democrat’s past role as a “border czar” within the Biden administration are hurting her on that issue.

More details in our full story from Joe Sommerlad.

Kamala Harris begins to pull away from Donald Trump for first time in latest polling

More photos from today’s Kamala Harris rally in Detroit

01:42 , Josh Marcus

VIDEO: Palestine protesters chanting ‘we won’t vote for genocide’ interrupt Harris rally

01:27 , Josh Marcus

A group of pro-Palestine activists briefly interrupted Kamala Harris’s speech today in Detroit.

Here’s what they said, before being quickly reprimanded by the vice president.

Harris shuts down group of pro-Palestinian activists at rally

01:19 , Josh Marcus

Kamala Harris just shut down a group who was chanting during her speech.

“We won’t vote for genocide,” the protesters reportedly said.

“If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that, otherwise I’m speaking,” she said sternly.

Chants of ‘Thank you, Joe!’ break out at Detroit rally

01:02 , Josh Marcus

Kamala Harris is in the driver’s seat for the Democrats, but party faithful clearly haven’t forgotten about the president.

At the mention of Biden, the crowd began chanting, “Thank you, Joe!”

“I’m going to tell him what you said,” Harris said onstage in Detroit.

Harris takes the stage

Thursday 8 August 2024 00:58 , Josh Marcus

The vice president has arrived and taken the stage in Detroit.

Walz gets personal about family’s IVF journey

Thursday 8 August 2024 00:56 , Josh Marcus

Tim Walz is opening up about why he’s so committed to fighting for access to reproductive care like IVF, which could be under threat from a future Trump administration.

His own daughter, Hope, arrived via the procedure.

“This is very personal for my family,” Walz said, describing the “agony” of waiting for years for a successful round of treatment.

“The agony of that I can feel to this day.”

More on the Walz family here, as Sheila Flynn reports.

Teacher, coach and family man: Tim Walz is the Midwest dad courting the White House

‘Joy,’ ‘Happy Warriors,’ and ‘Minding Your Own Damn Business’: Harris-Walz campaign leans into Midwest vibes

Thursday 8 August 2024 00:53 , Josh Marcus

The Harris-Walz campaign is starting to hit on some central themes, and joy is one of them.

“Those other guys.. tried to steal the joy from this country,” Tim Walz said today from the podium in Detroit.

The campaign has also sought to instill a bit of Midwestern, small-town flair to things, mixing positive messaging and touting the importance “minding your own damn business” on issues ranging from women’s health to access to books.

“It’s amazing what minding your own damn business does to make things work better,” Walz told the crowd.

Earlier in the event, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called the crowd a group of “happy warriors” for Harris-Walz.

Detroit rally interrupted by multiple calls for medics

Thursday 8 August 2024 00:45 , Josh Marcus

The atmosphere has been upbeat so far in Detroit, but today’s rally has been stopped numerous times as multiple speakers including Tim Walz and Mitchigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called for medics to attend to members of the crowd.

By our count, at least five people have gone down.

It wasn’t immediately clear what the rallygoers were experiencing, but, given the packed rally in an airport hangar, with temperatures at nearly 80 degrees with over 50 percent humidity, it’s more than likely the heat.

Onstage, Walz thanked the crowd for looking after those in distress.

“Thank you for caring for your neighbors,” he said.

Tim Walz sports campaign’s viral camo cap

Thursday 8 August 2024 00:37 , Josh Marcus

It’s not the same as a winning poll, but it’s not nothing, either.

The Harris-Walz campaign recently released a camo hat that almost instantly sold out.

Here’s more on the unlikely accessory of the summer.

Harris-Walz camouflage hat reaches nearly $1m in sales a day after release

More pictures from Detroit Harris-Walz rally

Thursday 8 August 2024 00:34 , Josh Marcus

Whitmer says it’s time for a ‘strong woman’ in the White House

Thursday 8 August 2024 00:30 , Josh Marcus

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, one of the country’s most prominent female elected leaders, is reminding the crowd of one of the historic milestones that could happen this election.

“We need a strong woman in the White House, and it’s about damn time, and a good man by her side in Vice President Tim Walz,” she said.

During her remarks, Whitmer also touched on the theme of abortion rights, describing how a Harris-Walz administration would protect “the freedom to make your own damn decisions about your own damn body.”

Whitmer praises Harris for living a ‘normal life’ in implicit dig at Vance

Thursday 8 August 2024 00:23 , Josh Marcus

Gretchen Whitmer just took a major shot at JD Vance, even though she didn’t have to say his name.

In response to comments from Vance criticizing those without biological children, Whitmer praised Harris for living a “normal life” and being a stepmother in a “beautiful” family.

“She lived a normal life,” Whitmer said. “She was raised by a single mom who had a full-time job.”

“She is a proud stepmom with a beautiful blended family who call her ‘Mom-ala,’” she added. “And I know a lot of us identify with some of those characteristics.”

More on Vance’s controversial comments on families.

‘Racist’ Mountain Dew, cat ladies — and eyeliner? The ‘weird’ times of JD Vance

‘Big Gretch’ takes the stage

Thursday 8 August 2024 00:16 , Josh Marcus

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, once thought to be on the shortlist for Kamala Harris’s VP pick, has taken the stage, as the crowd chanted her nickname “Big Gretch.”

Want the full scoop on election buzzwords?

Alicja Hagopian has the details.

We analyzed election season buzzwords, and the internet loves calling Trump weird

Vance holds chat with press outside Kamala Harris’s plane

Thursday 8 August 2024 00:15 , Oliver O’Connell

After his plane landed at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Wisconsin, Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance walked across the tarmac to get a closer look at Kamala Harris’s Air Force Two.

But she wasn’t there. After her plane landed, Harris had met a group of Girl Scouts before she joined her motorcade to drive to a packed rally with her running mate Tim Walz in Eau Claire, where Bon Iver was performing for thousands of supporters.

Vance, after getting close to Air Force Two, turned around and walked over to a group of reporters instead.

Alex Woodward reports.

Vance checks out Kamala Harris’s plane but runs away before spotting her

Shawn Fain praises Harris as a ‘strong’ and ‘bada**’ woman

Thursday 8 August 2024 00:09 , Josh Marcus

Donald Trump and JD Vance have been stung in recent weeks with the persistent insult that they’re “weird.”

Why Kamala’s VP pick might have already sunk Trump’s ‘weird’ running mate

At today’s rally in Detroit, UAW president Shawn Fain had a different assessment of the candidates in the race, calling Kamala Harris a “bada**.”

PHOTOS: Scene from the ground in Detroit as Harris and Walz rally support

Wednesday 7 August 2024 23:59 , Josh Marcus

UAW president accuses Donald Trump of changing tune on electric cars because of Elon Musk

Wednesday 7 August 2024 23:56 , Josh Marcus

UAW president Shawn Fain is accusing Donald Trump of having a false change of heart over electric cars because of promised support from Elon Musk, the co-founder and CEO of Tesla.

“All of a sudden, guess what, Donald Trump changed his tune,” Fain told the Harris-Walz rally in Detroit today, to a round of boos.

“Donald Trump is bought and paid for by the billionaire class,” he added. “Trump is a sellout, and as president he already showed us that under him, America is for sale of the highest bidder.”

Here’s more on the impact of Musk’s support for Trump.

Can we stop Elon Musk from winning the election for Trump?

Fain accuses Trump of being a ‘scab’ and Vance of being a ‘vulture’

Wednesday 7 August 2024 23:50 , Josh Marcus

In union country, there’s nothing worse than being accused of being a “scab,” someone who crosses a picket line to work during a strike.

But that’s exactly what UAW leader Shawn Fain is calling Donald Trump.

“Donald Trump doesn’t know s*** about the auto industry,” Fain told the crowd, branding the former president a “scab” and JD Vance a “vulture.”

“He doesn’t give a damn about the working class in this country,” Fain added of Trump.

Will these attacks stick in this crucial battleground state?

UAW leader Shawn Fain blasts Trump as ‘lapdog of the billionaire class’ at Harris-Walz rally in Detroit

Wednesday 7 August 2024 23:47 , Josh Marcus

UAW president Shawn Fain is tearing into the Trump-Vance campaign.

“On one side, we’ve got a billionaire that serves himself and his billionaire buddies,” Fain said. “He lies, cheats, and steals his way to the top. He is the lapdog of the billionaire class.”

Harris, meanwhile, is a “strong,” “intelligent,” and “bada** woman” who sided with striking auto workers, Fain said.

Tim Walz’s favorite song is by Bob Dylan — he’s what that tells us about him

Wednesday 7 August 2024 23:45 , Oliver O’Connell

A Bob Dylan expert has revealed the meaning behind one of Tim Walz’s favourite songs, after Kamala Harris selected him as her running mate in the US election.

In 2021, the Democratic vice presidential nominee contributed to a feature in the Minnesotan Post to mark the legendary singer-songwriter’s 80th birthday by choosing what he believed was one of his best songs.

Roisin O’Connor reports.

What Tim Walz’s favourite song reveals about him, according to a Bob Dylan expert

Shawn Fain likely to tout Harris-Walz support for labor

Wednesday 7 August 2024 23:40 , Josh Marcus

UAW president Shawn Fain is one of the most high-profile speakers at today’s Harris-Walz rally in Detroit.

The auto union leader is likely to boost the Biden-Harris record on organized labor, which included the president visiting striking auto works and supporting $1.7bn to boost electric car manufacturing.

Biden awards $1.7 billion to boost electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly in eight states

The Harris-Walz Express has landed

Wednesday 7 August 2024 23:34 , Josh Marcus

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s Midwest campaign sweep continues, and the pair just touched down at Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus.

Follow here for more live updates.

BREAKING NEWS: Yet another Hunter Biden case surfaces

Wednesday 7 August 2024 23:23 , Josh Marcus

It may be Kamala Harris’s campaign now, but those Hunter Biden cases aren’t going anywhere.

A new allegation claims Hunter Biden accepted payments from Gabriel Popoviciu, a wealthy Romanian businessman who was facing corruption charges, while the Romanian sought “to influence U.S. government agencies” at the time Joe Biden was vice president.

The claims came in a court filing on Wednesday as part of the tax case against Hunter Biden from the special counsel’s office.

More here.

How the Secret Service is protecting Harris-Walz campaign, after shock assassination attempt on Trump

Wednesday 7 August 2024 23:17 , Josh Marcus

Secret Service snipers were positioned outside a rally for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in Wisconsin, the first major outdoor presidential campaign event since a gunman opened fire on Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania last month.

Alex Woodward has the details.

Snipers watch over Harris-Walz outdoor rally, the first since gunman fired on Trump

Harris choosing Walz is another win for Pelosi and Obama

Wednesday 7 August 2024 23:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Progressives were some of the loudest Democrats cheering on Twitter after Kamala Harris announced her selection of Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday. But they weren’t the only winners in the party.

Some of the biggest political victors as the Minnesota governor joined the presidential ticket were the biggest power players in the Democratic Party, whose influence has now been solidified after their involvement on the winning side of two monumental battles that have taken place in Democratic politics over the past month and a half.

At the top of the list: Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Harris choosing Walz is another win for Pelosi and Obama

Harris-Walz rally is under way in Detroit: pictures

Wednesday 7 August 2024 23:12 , Josh Marcus

WATCH: Harris campaign is starting to top Trump in the polls

Wednesday 7 August 2024 23:00 , Josh Marcus

With the election less than 100 days away, the race is closer than ever.

Recent polls suggest the Harris campaign has made up its deficit with the Trump team and may be pulling ahead.

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz bought some very Midwestern souvenirs on their trip to Wisconsin

Wednesday 7 August 2024 22:53 , Josh Marcus

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are heading through the Midwest today for rallies in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Detroit.

In Wisconsin, in addition to meeting with indie rock star Bon Iver, who opened their rally, they stopped into a local store and bought some regional specialties, including cheese curds and a record from Wisconsin musician S. Carey.

How Kamala Harris’s ‘Midwestern dad’ running mate went to bat for Swifties

Wednesday 7 August 2024 22:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz signed a so-called “Taylor Swift Bill” into law earlier this year after the then-Minnesota Governor struggled to buy tickets for the pop icon’s record-breaking Eras Tour.

Kevin E G Perry has the story of how Kamala Harris’s running mate went to bat for Swifties.

How Kamala Harris’s running mate Tim Walz went to bat for Swifties

What do financial disclosures reveal about Tim Walz?

Wednesday 7 August 2024 22:32 , Josh Marcus

Tim Walz’s financial disclosures have raised eyebrows among his political opponents, but not in the way they might have hoped.

The Minnesota governor and Democratic vice presidential nominee’s financial interests are shocking for how extremely boring they are — almost non-existent, in fact.

Walz doesn’t own a single stock, according to Axios. His disclosures also show no mutual funds, bonds, private equities, or other securities. He and his wife don’t even own property, having sold their house before moving into the governor’s mansion.

A top-flight politician with no investments is highly unusual. The disclosures of a candidate running for office are usually a gold mine for opposition researchers, who can build narratives and attack lines out of them.

Richard Hall digs into the details.

Tim Walz’s surprising financial disclosures have been revealed

Inside 2020 call between Trump and Walz after Proud Boys showed up at his house

Wednesday 7 August 2024 22:15 , Oliver O’Connell

New details have come to light about a 2020 phone call between Tim Waltz and Donald Trump when armed Proud Boys showed up outside the Democratic vice presidential candidate’s home in what appeared to be a response to a tweet from the then-president.

When the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the US, Minnesota Governor Walz – like other state governors – implemented restrictions to try to combat the spread of the virus.

The restrictions prompted some protesters to come out in force and, on April 17 2020, Trump appeared to encourage them – with a cryptic post on Twitter, now X, specifically targeting Minnesota.

James Liddell has the full story.

Inside 2020 call between Trump and Walz after armed Proud Boys showed up at his house

RFK Jr closer to getting on New Jersey ballot

Wednesday 7 August 2024 21:45 , AP

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. didn’t violate New Jersey‘s “sore loser” law, a judge ruled on Tuesday, potentially clearing the way for Kennedy to appear on the presidential ballot as an independent.

Administrative Law Judge Ernest Bongiovanni rejected the petition by Scott Salmon, an election law attorney in the state, who challenged Kennedy’s independent bid for the White House.

“Respondent did not attempt to seek the democratic primary nomination in New Jersey and thus cannot be considered a loser under (the law),” the judge wrote.

Read on…

RFK Jr. closer to getting on New Jersey ballot after judge rules he didn’t violate ‘sore loser’ law

Harris and Walz meet with Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon at local store

Wednesday 7 August 2024 21:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Per the vice president’s traveling pool:

Motorcade pulled up to The Local store, which looks like a general store for locally made goods, at 3:18 pm. It smelled like cinnamon.

VP and Walz entered at 3:20. Justin Vernon of Bon Iver was with them wearing a Harris Walz camo hat. Walz’s daughter, Hope, was also there and wearing the hat.

“The whole day was amazing,” Vernon said. “Joyful. I think we’re all feeling it.”

Harris showed Vernon an album, extolling the virtue of vinyl, and them they perused snacks. Walz marveled over the Minnesota items. At one point Hope was directing him around the store.

Pool was moved away as the pair + Vernon were greeting children and headed to motorcade. Pool have asked what they purchased but at one point VP was holding what looked like a bag of candies. Holding at 3:27 pm.

Trump told Walz in 2020 he was ‘very happy’ with his handling of George Floyd protests

Wednesday 7 August 2024 21:35 , Oliver O’Connell

ABC News has obtained a recording of a call between Donald Trump and a group of governors on June 1, 2020, in which the then-president said he was happy with the way Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had handled the George Floyd protests.

Since Walz was annoucned as Kamala Harris’s running mate, one of the main lines of attack from Trump and his allies has been that the governor allowed Minneapolis to burn.

Per ABC News:

In the hours after Vice President Kamala Harris announced Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, allies of former President Donald Trump rushed to denigrate the Minnesota Democrat, seizing on criticism of his handling of the riots in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in May 2020.

“He allowed rioters to burn down the streets of Minneapolis,” Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican candidate for vice president, said Tuesday.

But at the time, Trump expressed support for Walz’s handling of the protests, according to a recording of a phone call obtained by ABC News — telling a group of governors that Walz “dominated,” and praising his leadership as an example for other states to follow.

Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that the former president lauded Walz only after the governor heeded his advice to enlist support from the National Guard.

ABC News and George Stephanopoulos respond to Trump’s defamation lawsuit

Wednesday 7 August 2024 21:25 , Oliver O’Connell

ABC News and George Stephanopoulos have responded to Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against them denying that the statements made by the anchor regarding that E Jean Carroll case were false and defamatory.

Here’s the full court filing.

And here’s Alex Woodward with the background to the case:

Trump claims ‘big win’ after judge rejects ABC’s attempt to dismiss defamation suit

MAGA troll who sparked fury for telling voters not to be ‘weak and gay’ crashes out of primary

Wednesday 7 August 2024 21:15 , Oliver O’Connell

A Republican candidate for Missouri Secretary of State who used homophobic slurs in her campaign videos lost significantly in her primary race on Tuesday evening, receiving less than 8 percent of the total votes.

Valentina Gomez, a 25-year-old woman who sought the Republican nomination, made headlines this year with her eye-catching campaign videos that included burning LGBT+-friendly books for children and teens, attacking people in the LGBT+ community with vulgar language, promoting AR-15s, abolishing voting machines and more.

Ariana Baio reports.

MAGA troll who sparked fury for anti-LGBT campaign videos crashes out of primary

Watch: Harris says Trump should never stand behind seal of President of the United States again

Wednesday 7 August 2024 21:05 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris says Donald Trump should never stand behind seal of President of the United States again over his suggestion the Constitution should be terminated.

Arizona attorney general didn’t want to charge Trump in state’s election interference case

Wednesday 7 August 2024 20:58 , Oliver O’Connell

An Arizona grand jury that voted to indict 18 Republicans for their attempts to reverse Donald Trump’s election loss in the state also wanted to see criminal charges against the former president himself, according to new court filings.

Alex Woodward has been following the case.

Arizona grand jurors wanted to indict Trump. Prosecutors urged them not to

Harris tells crowd courts will handle Trump’s charges, she’ll beat him in November

Wednesday 7 August 2024 20:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Vice President Kamala Harris has come up with a strategy for tamping down chants of “Lock him up!” in reference to Donald Trump’s myriad of legal woes and conviction for 34 counts of fraud.

Watch here:

Vance says he’ll debate Harris, not Walz

Wednesday 7 August 2024 20:46 , Oliver O’Connell

Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance says in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, that he would debate Kamala Harris next week on August 13, but not her running mate Tim Walz.

He claims “we don’t know who the vice presidential nominee is going to be” and that the Democrats may “pull a bait and switch” on Walz.

The Democratic National Committee certified them as being the party’s presidential ticket yesterday. Perhaps he didn’t see that part of the news last night.

There has been much talk over the past weeks of the possibility of Donald Trump dumping Vance from the Republican Party ticket after a not great start to this stage of the campaign.

Here’s Vance making those remarks:

Watch: Walz pauses speech to help someone struggling with Wisconsin summer heat

Wednesday 7 August 2024 20:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Wednesday 7 August 2024 20:23 , Oliver O’Connell

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Donald Trump, in remarks at Harris-Walz 2024 rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Watch LIVE: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz campaign in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Wednesday 7 August 2024 20:18 , Oliver O’Connell

Biden wanted to see ‘energy’ and ‘excitement’ in Harris campaign

Wednesday 7 August 2024 20:17 , Oliver O’Connell

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about President Joe Biden’s impresssion of the Harris campaign so far.

She replied: “What we’ve all watched and experienced these past couple of weeks is exactly what he was hoping for. You think about the energy, you think about the excitement. That’s what he wanted to see.”

Kamala Harris and the looming war that could define her presidency

Wednesday 7 August 2024 20:05 , Oliver O’Connell

As Kamala Harris sat alongside Joe Biden in the Situation Room on Monday evening, she may have felt some trepidation. The president and vice president were about to be briefed — for hours — on the threat of regional war between Israel and Iran. Harris was now advising as vice president on a war she may soon have to take on as president.

Israel’s assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyehin in July, at a crucial moment in a months-long White House effort to reach a ceasefire deal, has brought the Middle East to the brink of war. It has also, importantly, brought US-Israel relations to breaking point.

The Independent’s Richard Hall, Bel Trew, and Andrew Feinberg report.

The looming war that could define Kamala Harris’s presidency

Watch: Vance responds to ‘weird’ label

Wednesday 7 August 2024 19:59 , Oliver O’Connell

In pictures: Harris and Walz arrive in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Wednesday 7 August 2024 19:43 , Oliver O’Connell

Vice President Kamala Harris an Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have arrived in Wisconsin for an outdoor rally in Eau Claire. They were greeted at the airport by Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, Chairman Nancy Coffey, Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors, President Emily Berge, Eau Claire City Council, and members of Girl Scout Troop #3307.

Watch: AOC says Walz is a ‘uniter’ for the whole country

Wednesday 7 August 2024 19:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Vance calls out Harris for not answering questions from reporters

Wednesday 7 August 2024 19:19 , Oliver O’Connell

Half of voters say Trump is too old to run as president at 78

Wednesday 7 August 2024 19:15 , Oliver O’Connell

The number of voters who think that 78-year-old Donald Trump is in good health is dropping and the number who believe he’s too old to run for president is increasing, a new poll shows.

This comes after 81-year-old President Joe Biden’s departure from the race and his replacement atop the Democratic ticket with Vice President Kamala Harris, 59. On Tuesday, Harris revealed her running mate Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, 60, during a raucous rally in Philadelphia.

A new Morning Consult poll juxtaposed the results from when Biden was still the presumptive nominee.

Gustaf Kilander looked at the figures.

Half of voters voice concerns about Trump’s age ahead of election

Meanwhile in Wisconsin…

Wednesday 7 August 2024 19:09 , Oliver O’Connell

JD Vance and Kamala Harris landed at the same airport in Wisconsin and he appears to have walked over…

And there’s an enthusiastic crowd awaiting the vice president in Eau Claire.

Biden records interview with CBS

Wednesday 7 August 2024 19:06 , Oliver O’Connell

The White House shares the following:

The President recorded an interview with Bob Costa for CBS Sunday Morning. The full interview airs on Sunday, August 11th.

Harris begins to pull away from Trump for first time in latest election polling

Wednesday 7 August 2024 19:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris appears to be pulling ahead of Donald Trump in presidential election polling for the first time, with the Democrat taking a three-point lead over the Republican former president in a new survey.

A poll for NPR, PBS and Marist published on Wednesday places the Vice President on 51 per cent of the vote overall, compared to Trump’s 48 per cent, and comes after her choice of Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate was met with an overwhelmingly positive response.

Joe Sommerlad looks at the figures.

Kamala Harris begins to pull away from Donald Trump for first time in latest polling

Voices: Doug Emhoff is the ultimate golden retriever husband

Wednesday 7 August 2024 18:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Danielle Campamour writes:

Since President Joe Biden withdrew from the upcoming presidential election and Vice President Kamala Harris announced her candidacy, an unsuspecting dark horse has emerged as a beloved staple of the 2024 presidential race.

No, it’s not Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who gifts the Harris campaign with viral mic drop after viral mic drop every time a Republican dares to challenge him on silly things like facts, statistics and reality.

And it’s not newly announced Harris running-mate and Minnesota governor Tim Walz, who appropriately ditched the “when they go low we go high” doomed mantra of 2016 and rightfully labeled the MAGA GOP weird AF.

It’s Harris’ husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.

Continue reading…

Doug Emhoff is the ultimate golden retriever husband

Wednesday 7 August 2024 18:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Election buzzwords take the internet by storm

Wednesday 7 August 2024 18:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Alicja Hagopian writes:

The November election cycle is in full swing – and it’s shaping up to be one full of buzzwords and online trends as the competing candidates grapple to pull in votes from the American public.

There’s the term “weird”, which was coined by the new Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz to describe Donald Trump and JD Vance.

There’s “brat”, with Charli XCX’s hit summer album becoming synonymous with Kamala Harris’s campaign.

There’s also the offensive phrase “childless cat ladies” which Vance continues to face backlash over.

Not to mention a whole host of other buzzwords, from coconut trees to bears and Project 2025.

Continue reading…

Weird, brat and childless cat ladies: Election buzzwords take the internet by storm

Harris-Walz campaign raised $36m in 24 hours

Wednesday 7 August 2024 18:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Per the Harris-Walz campaign:

“In the first 24 hours since Governor Walz was announced as Vice President Harris’ running mate, Team Harris-Walz has raised $36 million dollars.”

Watch: Huge line to see Harris and Walz (and Bon Iver) in Wisconsin

Wednesday 7 August 2024 17:53 , Oliver O’Connell

Manhattan Planned Parenthood clinic to stop offering abortions after 20 weeks

Wednesday 7 August 2024 17:45 , Oliver O’Connell

The only Planned Parenthood clinic in Manhattan announced it would no longer be performing abortions after 20 weeks due to financial issues, according to a report.

The clinic will temporarily stop providing abortions after 20 weeks and will halt “deep sedation” for patients during intrauterine devices (IUD) insertion and surgical abortions, the nonprofit’s state chapter spokesperson told The Independent in a statement. The changes, first reported by The City, will begin on September 3.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Manhattan Planned Parenthood clinic to stop offering abortions after 20 weeks

Texts reveal lengthy conversations between JD Vance and Holocaust denier

Wednesday 7 August 2024 17:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump’s running mate texted extensively with a right-wing activist known for spreading fabricated smear campaigns against Democrats and even denying the atrocities of the Holocaust during a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) discussion.

JD Vance and Charles (”Chuck”) Johnson conversed about a wide range of subjects, according to text messages obtained by The Washington Post, including the war in Ukraine, UFOs, US-Israel policy and Jeffrey Epstein. The conversation occurred over the encrypted messaging app Signal; the texts were provided to the Post by Johnson as Vance seeks the vice presidency on the Republican 2024 ticket.

A spokesperson for the Ohio senator confirmed the validity of the texts but claimed to the Post that Johnson “spam” texted Vance, and that the senator only responded to “push back” against Johnson’s wilder claims.

John Bowden has the story.

Uncovered texts reveal lengthy conversations between JD Vance and Holocaust denier

‘DEI’ attacks on Harris will alienate voters, former Trump aide warns

Wednesday 7 August 2024 17:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Former Donald Trump White House official Peter Navarro warned that firing personal attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris is not a winning strategy for the former president.

Harris has faced relentless racist and sexist attacks from Republicans in the few weeks that she has run for president — but Navarro cautioned that such comments will backfire.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

Former Trump aide warns ‘DEI’ attacks on Harris will alienate voters

Wednesday 7 August 2024 17:10 , Oliver O’Connell

The scene in Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Wednesday 7 August 2024 17:07 , Oliver O’Connell

Walz and Harris tour battleground states with Trump and Vance tailing behind

Wednesday 7 August 2024 17:02 , Oliver O’Connell

Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly announced running mate Tim Walz are barnstorming across battleground states this week after making their eclectic debut in Philadelphia.

Harris and Walz — the presumptive Democratic presidential ticket — will next appear together in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, followed by visits to Detroit, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Their Republican rivals Donald Trump and JD Vance will be tailing them on the campaign trail with dueling stops in Michigan and Wisconsin.

Alex Woodward reports.

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz tour battleground states with Trump and Vance behind them

Harris-Walz campaign reacts to Trump’s ‘Fox & Friends’ interview

Wednesday 7 August 2024 17:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Harris-Walz 2024 spokesperson James Singer issued the following statement:

“Yesterday, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz offered America a brighter future united around joy and love of country. The Harris-Walz campaign is foeused on building a stronger middle class, fighting for our freedoms, and protecting our rights.

“On Fox News this morning, criminal Donald Trump rambled, lied, and offered America nothing but chaos, hate and anger – the polar opposite of what we saw in Philadelphia last night. We aren’t surprised Trump wouldn’t show his face, he’s ashamed of his dangerous Project 2025 agenda, is afraid to debate, and has no positive vision to present to the American people.”

A lesson in the importance of having a good advance team while campaigning

Wednesday 7 August 2024 16:55 , Oliver O’Connell

JD Vance is being roasted online over an embarrassing gaffe at a rally on Tuesday, where he appeared to be campaigning for Democratic rival Kamala Harris.

Donald Trump’s running mate appeared on stage at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to deliver a speech in front of national news cameras and Republican supporters.

Myriam Page explains how things went wrong.

JD Vance roasted for appearing to campaign for Harris in rally blunder

FBI raids home of Republican congressman, seizing cellphone

Wednesday 7 August 2024 16:45 , Oliver O’Connell

FBI agents raided the home of Republican congressman Andy Ogles and seized his cellphone last week as part of an investigation into potential campaign finance and ethics violations.

In a post on X post, the representative for Tennessee’s 5th congressional district, confirmed that a search was executed on his home on Friday, following reports that his campaign had “made mistakes” in its “initial financial filings.”

Myriam Page reports.

FBI raids home and seizes cellphone of Republican congressman Andy Ogles

Doug Emhoff leads presidential delegation to Paris Olympics closing ceremony

Wednesday 7 August 2024 16:41 , Oliver O’Connell

Harris talks tough on border security to take on Trump

Wednesday 7 August 2024 16:28 , Reuters

Vice President Kamala Harris is toughening her position on illegal immigration, taking on hardliner Donald Trump on his signature issue in a series of campaign events and digital ads in coming weeks, according to campaign staff.

The campaign plans to promote Harris‘ support for a bipartisan border security bill – defeated in the Senate in February after Trump came out against it – that would have increased funding for border agents and detention facilities, an official said.

Harris‘ more combative approach on immigration is expected to be on display as she campaigns around the country with her running mate Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, who was chosen in part for his appeal to voters in America’s heartland.

Harris will also highlight Trump’s most divisive actions, such as his 2018 policy that separated thousands of migrant families at the US-Mexico border and an executive order in 2017 that sought to ban travel from certain Muslim-majority countries. A version of the ban was upheld by the Supreme Court a year later.

A campaign official said Harris had a chance to reintroduce herself to voters after becoming the Democratic presidential candidate following US President Joe Biden’s exit from the race last month.

“It’s all part of a larger effort by Harris to be direct and to go directly at Trump,” said Matt Barreto, a pollster who has worked with the Harris and Biden campaigns. “Democrats always do well when they lean in on the immigration issue and don’t run away from it.”

The enforcement-first position is a departure from Biden’s 2020 campaign, when he pledged a more humane approach to immigration than Trump. Biden gradually hardened his approach as illegal crossings increased.

Watch: Trump says ‘I could not be more thrilled’ with Harris picking Walz

Wednesday 7 August 2024 16:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Vance attacks Walz over military service and ‘chameleon’ Harris

Wednesday 7 August 2024 16:04 , Oliver O’Connell

Here’s JD Vance speaking in Shelby Township, Michigan this morning, attacking Minnesota Governor Tim Walz over his military service.

And Vice President Kamala Harris for being a “chameleon” in front of different audiences. Which you might say sounds like a job description for a politician running for office… 🤔

Inside Tim Walz’s winning interview to be Harris VP pick

Wednesday 7 August 2024 15:50 , Oliver O’Connell

In a move that is rarely encouraged in a job interview, Tim Walz sat in the dining room of the US Naval Observatory reeling off a string of his self-confessed weaknesses to Kamala Harris and her vetting team.

He doesn’t know how to use a teleprompter.

He isn’t from a swing state and is relatively unknown.

And, he’s a bad debater.

James Liddell reports how these candid admissions helped the Minnesota governor seal the deal.

Inside Tim Walz’s winning interview to become Harris VP pick

Polls show Harris moving ahead of Trump nationally but key battlegrounds still up for grabs

Wednesday 7 August 2024 15:43 , Oliver O’Connell

There is good news for the Harris-Walz campaign as the vice president and Minnesota governor begin their tour of key battleground states today, following last night’s raucous rally in Philadelphia.

The latest national polling has Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump by three points (Marist/NPR/PBS and SurveyUSA) and four points (Morning Consult).

The Marist poll has Harris leading by three percentage points, both in a head-to-head (51:48) and when other candidates are factored in (48:45). SurveyUSA has them at 48:45, and Morning Consult has Harris up by four at 48:44.

However, as the Democrats hit the campaign trail, according to battleground averages calculated by polling site FiveThirtyEight, there is a more mixed picture.

Trump leads Harris by four points in Georgia and two points in Arizona, with Harris up by two points in Michigan, one in Pennsylvania, and one and a half in Wisconsin.

Watch: ‘Walz is exactly what JD Vance is pretending to be’

Wednesday 7 August 2024 15:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump slams Walz in animated phone call with Fox and Friends

Wednesday 7 August 2024 15:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump launched a scathing attack against Tim Walz on Wednesday morning, calling into Fox & Friends to brand the Minnesota governor a “shocking pick” for vice president who will “immediately” push the country towards communism.

“He’s a very liberal man and he’s a shocking pick,” Trump told hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade in an animated phone call to the network.

“There’s never been a ticket like this. This is a ticket that would want the country to go communist immediately, if not sooner.”

James Liddell reports on what else the former president had to say.

Trump slams Walz in animated Fox News phone call: ‘He’s a smarter version of her’

Revealed: JD Vance’s texts with blogger who promoted right wing conspiracy theories

Wednesday 7 August 2024 15:05 , Oliver O’Connell

Charles Johnson, a blogger and entrepreneur who has zealously promoted right-wing conspiracy theories, has provided The Washington Post with some 20 months of text messages between him and Donald Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance.

Per the Post, their correspondence:

…offers a glimpse of the Republican vice-presidential nominee’s off-the-cuff musings, often matching his public expressions but voiced with much less polish. Vance was just as casual in discussing America’s foreign alliances as he was in evaluating his own private alliances with the GOP’s moneyed class.

Further:

As a newly minted senator, Vance solicited Johnson’s views on many topics, including UFOs (“What is your read”), the Republican Party’s relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (“What is GOP Bibi problem?”) and the death of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (“Do you think Epstein actually killed himself?”). When Johnson suggested that the senator should work to restrict foreign ownership of U.S. housing, Vance responded with a “thumbs up” emoji.

Johnson has been critical of Vance since he was picked as the GOP vice presidential nominee. He now says that he has grown disillusioned with him and according to the Post now supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party nominee.

In the past, Johnson “has spread fantastical claims about a wide range of politicians and journalists and has made comments casting doubt on the Holocaust” but he has now “provided information to the FBI in recent years about some of his associates and maintains that his access to far-right circles has allowed him to expose wrongdoing and serve the public good”.

Vance spokesman William Martin told the Post the two were never close and don’t share the same politics. “Chuck Johnson spam texted JD Vance,” Martin said. “JD usually ignored him, but occasionally responded to push back against things he said.”

Watch: ‘Elections are about the future, not yesterday’

Wednesday 7 August 2024 15:05 , Oliver O’Connell

SNL fans beg Steve Martin to play Tim Walz in new season: ‘Get your ass to NYC now!’

Wednesday 7 August 2024 14:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Since news broke yesterday that Harris had picked Walz as her running mate for the 2024 presidential election, the internet has named Steve Martin as the ideal actor to parody him on Saturday Night Live.

Given that Martin, 78, with his white hair, thick-rimmed glasses and wide, infectious smile bears an undeniable resemblance to Walz, 60, it doesn’t seem like a long shot.

Inga Parkel has more.

SNL fans beg Steve Martin to play Tim Walz in new season

Watch: ‘Joy and exuberance versus grievance and retribution’

Wednesday 7 August 2024 14:38 , Oliver O’Connell

‘Walz wows ‘em’ says hometown paper

Wednesday 7 August 2024 14:31 , Oliver O’Connell

Minneapolis-based Star Tribune, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s hometown paper, seemed pretty happy with how things went last night in Philadelphia, headlining today’s issues with “WALZ WOWS ‘EM”.

Voices: It’s a vibes election – and Harris has picked the perfect running mate for the job

Wednesday 7 August 2024 14:20 , Joe Sommerlad

The replacement of Joe Biden at the top of the ticket has changed the energy in the room, writes Richard Hall.

It’s a vibes election – and Harris has picked the perfect running mate for the job

Jennifer Garner and Queer Eye’s Bobby Berk join Rural Voters for Harris call to celebrate Walz’s pick

Wednesday 7 August 2024 13:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Hollywood star Jennifer Garner and Queer Eye alum Bobby Berk joined rural Democratic activists on a Zoom call on Tuesday in celebrating Harris’s selection of Tim Walz as her running mate.

The Zoom call, formally called Rural Voters for Harris, took place after Harris and Walz took the stage in Philadelphia for their first rally since he was tapped to join her on the Democratic party’s ticket.

Here’s Eric Garcia on what was said.

Jennifer Garner and Queer Eye’s Bobby Berk join Rural Voters for Harris call

Harris campaign denies Shapiro was rejected for VP because of faith

Wednesday 7 August 2024 13:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Kamala Harris’ campaign has rejected the suggestion that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was overlooked as her running mate in favour of Tim Walz because of his Jewish faith.

Representatives said that the claims were “ridiculous and offensive” and that the Vice President would “always combat antisemitism whenever and wherever she sees it.”

Despite losing out to Walz, Shapiro gamely introduced the ticket on stage last night, joining in the attacks on JD Vance as “a weirdo”.

Mike Bedigan reports.

Harris campaign denies claim Shapiro was rejected for VP because of Jewish faith

Trump calls ‘communist’ Walz ‘a shocking pick’ on Fox and Friends

Wednesday 7 August 2024 12:50 , Joe Sommerlad

The Republican nominee is up bright and early talking Tim Walz on Fox’s flagship breakfast show and calling him “a very liberal man and a shocking pick” on Harris’s part.

“He’s a smarter version of her, if you want to know the truth,” Trump tells the hosts.

“He’s basically Bernie Sanders, no he’s greater than Bernie Sanders,” he adds, picking up an attack line used by Lauren Boebert yesterday, among others.

“There’s never been a ticket like this,” he gripes.

“This is a ticket that wants this country to go communist immediately if not sooner. ‘We want no security, we want no anything.’ He’s very into transgender, anything transgender he thinks is great. And [Walz] is not where the country is on anything.

“This is a shocking pick and I think it’s very insulting to Jewish people, and I think it’s very insulting to anyone who wants security. It’s very insulting to anything having to do with making America great again.”

Trump further argues that it is “insulting” to Jewish voters that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was not chosen and says that he has heard Harris is “sort of a nasty person” as a debater.

He also claims that Walz called him for help following the Black Lives Matter protests that erupted in Minneapolis in summer 2020 over the police killing of George Floyd and that, with a kind word from the then-president, the crowds magically dispersed, which is not exactly how I remember it. How about you?

Here’s Josh Marcus on that MAGA critique of the Governor.

Harris VP pick Tim Walz under microscope for response to 2020 George Floyd protests

Cori Bush becomes the second Squad member to lose her primary as she’s ousted from Missouri seat

Wednesday 7 August 2024 12:20 , Joe Sommerlad

Democratic representative Cori Bush became the second member of the Squad to lose her primary as county prosecutor Wesley Bell beat her in a grueling and expensive race in Missouri on Tuesday night.

Pro-Israel groups spent massive amounts of money to depose Bush in the district where she pulled off an upset victory against a longtime incumbent Democrat back in 2020.

The United Democracy Project (UDP), a super PAC of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, spent $9.2m against Bush, according to AdImpact.

That made the primary the second-most expensive one of the year after UDP spent millions in opposition to fellow Squad member and New York representative Jamaal Bowman.

By contrast, Bush’s campaign only spent $1.1m and the Justice Democrats, a group that supports left-wing candidates, spent only $2.5m in the district that includes St Louis.

The massive drive from pro-Israel groups appeared to pay off, with Bell declaring victory on Tuesday with 51 per cent of the vote to Bush’s 46 per cent.

Here’s more from Eric Garcia.

Cori Bush becomes the second Squad member to lose a primary as she’s ousted from seat

Vance roasted for embarrassing rally gaffe where he appeared to campaign for Harris

Wednesday 7 August 2024 11:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump’s running mate appeared on stage at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia last night to deliver a speech in front of national news cameras and Republican supporters.

Behind him was a stage backdrop reading: “KAMALA CHAOS.”

But Vance’s attempt to trash the Democratic presidential candidate spectacularly failed, as the backdrop was partially covered by rallygoers, leaving only the name “KAMALA” visible.

The image quickly went viral on social media, with critics roasting Vance for unwittingly appearing to campaign for his opposition.

Myriam Page has more.

JD Vance roasted for appearing to campaign for Harris in rally blunder

JD Vance’s first rally provides insight into how he will attack Harris

Wednesday 7 August 2024 11:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Trump’s running mate also happened to be campaigning in Philadelphia yesterday.

Here’s John Bowden on how his attacks on Walz reveal the wider Republican strategy.

JD Vance’s first rally provides clue into how he will coordinate attacks on Harris

Republicans worry Trump is having a ‘public nervous breakdown’

Wednesday 7 August 2024 11:10 , Joe Sommerlad

The GOP is reportedly concerned that its Dear Leader is having a “public nervous breakdown” after he made a series of offensive outbursts about Vice President Harris in response to slipping behind in the polls.

Here’s the latest from Kelly Rissman.

Republicans worry Trump is having a ‘public nervous breakdown’

Trump leads Republican meltdown over Walz

Wednesday 7 August 2024 10:50 , Joe Sommerlad

The Republican nominee reacted hysterically to Harris choosing Walz as her running mate yesterday, warning the mild-mannered man former high school teacher would “unleash HELL ON EARTH” in a fundraising email to supporters.

Trump leads Republican meltdown as Walz unveiled as Harris’ VP pick: ‘HELL ON EARTH’

Trump promises ‘major interview’ with Elon Musk next week

Wednesday 7 August 2024 10:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Desperate to regain the limelight, Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will do “a major interview” with Elon Musk next Monday August 12.

He’s also speaking to Fox and Friends this morning, where he can be relied upon to attack Walz as a “radical leftist” and claim that “Kamabla” is personally responsible for inflation.

We got a flavour of that last night in another Truth Social post in which he also baselessly and insanely claimed: “I HEAR THERE IS A BIG MOVEMENT TO “BRING BACK CROOKED JOE.”

Trump was also trying to wrestle back attention last night by taking credit for a slate of primary wins for his MAGA candidates when most eyes were trained on Philadelphia.

Teacher, coach and family man: The Midwestern dad courting the White House

Wednesday 7 August 2024 10:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Walz has shared plenty of family stories on social media over the years, including just last night, when he explained that his daughter was named Hope in response to he and his wife Gwen’s eventual triumph after years of heart-breaking fertility treatment.

Want to know more about the man of the moment?

From high school halls to Capitol Hill and the Minnesota governor’s mansion, Nebraska native Tim Walz has been weaving a political path tinged with schoolteacher sensibilities since 2006 – and the next stop could be the White House. His family life has figured prominently through all of it, writes Sheila Flynn.

Teacher, coach and family man: Tim Walz is the Midwest dad courting the White House

Harris-Walz camo hat attracts huge interest online

Wednesday 7 August 2024 09:50 , Joe Sommerlad

It’s been less than 24 hours since the Minnesota Governor’s unveiling and already one piece of merchandise in their campaign store has gone viral for taking on Donald Trump at his own game.

I think this is a pretty accurate assessment of its target audience and likely appeal.

Here’s Myriam Page’s report.

‘For all the midwest princesses out there’: frenzy for Walz-Harris camo hat merch

Watch: Walz’s best reactions to Harris’s speech

Wednesday 7 August 2024 09:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Tim Walz’s best reactions to Kamala Harris’s speech

Walz lands a zinger on Vance with couch gag – and attacks him over memoir trashing his own community

Wednesday 7 August 2024 09:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Harris’ new running mate brutally roasted his Republican counterpart JD Vance during his maiden speech last night – and even cracked a risque couch joke at his expense.

Walz drew cheers and laughter from the crowd gathered in Philadelphia when he referenced the Republican vice presidential nominee’s recent bashing online, telling crowds: “I can’t wait to debate the guy… if he’s willing to get off the couch.”

Vance was subject to ridicule after a parody post on X claimed that there was part of his best-selling book Hillbilly Elegy where the Ohio Senator admitted to having relations with a sofa.

The joke was exacerbated by a since-retracted fact-check article by the Associated Press titled “No, JD Vance did not have sex with a couch,” which prompted a barrage of memes on social media.

Walz couldn’t resist jumping on the bandwagon himself on Tuesday night, hitting out at Vance’s hypocrisy in his book, and blasting his exclusive education and career.

Mike Bedigan has more.

Tim Walz attacks Vance about that couch story at first rally as Harris’ running mate

Tim Walz pulls no punches in first speech as Kamala Harris’s running mate at packed Philadelphia rally

Wednesday 7 August 2024 08:52 , Joe Sommerlad

Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz made their debut as the Democratic presidential ticket on Tuesday night, kicking off a campaign against Donald Trump and JD Vance in front of an electrified crowd in Philadelphia.

The governor strode on stage at Temple University’s Licouras Center on Tuesday with Harris just hours after she announced him as her running mate, with 91 days to go until the November election.

Walz’s appearance ended the closely-watched contest for the next potential vice president, landing on a seasoned Midwestern politician, military veteran and former school teacher with a progressive track record.

Here’s Andrew Feinberg and Alex Woodward’s report on a momentous night in Philly.

Tim Walz fires up Democrats in first speech as Kamala Harris’s running mate

Hello and welcome!

Wednesday 7 August 2024 08:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the 2024 US presidential election.

Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, took to the stage together for the first time on Tuesday evening in Philadelphia, with the 2024 election now just 90 days away.

The new Democratic ticket arrived before the more than 12,000-strong crowd at Temple University in the Pennsylvania city to roars of applause.

Onstage, the Vice President praised Walz’s Midwestern roots as a high school teacher, veteran, congressman and governor responsible for policies like free school lunches for kids and protections to codify abortion rights.

“I set out to find a partner who can help build this brighter future,” Harris said.

Walz then delivered a fiery speech of his own, balancing calls to bring “joy” back to politics with cutting attacks on the GOP campaign, mocking Donald Trump and JD Vance as out-of-touch leaders who were “weird as hell” and lying about their connections to Project 2025.