‘The right team:’ Tim Walz leans into Midwestern football coach roots during speech

CHICAGO — Democrats cheered on the party’s new coach as Tim Walz leaned into his Midwestern roots during a speech at the national convention in a pivotal moment for the Minnesota governor to introduce himself to his party and American voters ahead of the November election.

Walz, a former high school football coach, showcased his relatable and downhome style of speech that he’s become known for since joining Vice-President Kamala Harris on the presidential ticket earlier this month.

“It’s the fourth quarter, we’re down a field goal, but we are on offence, and we’ve got the ball,” Walz said, making a football reference as supporters cheered loudly.

“We are driving down the field, and, boy, do we have the right team.”

Walz officially accepted the party’s nomination Wednesday night, speaking about his small-town upbringing, time in the National Guard and experience as a teacher. He detailed political achievements, including tackling child hunger.

Walz also spoke about the fertility issues that he and his wife, Gwen, confronted when having their two children. His son, Gus, cried and appeared to say, “That’s my dad,” during the speech.

Democrats are hoping Walz can reach beyond the walls of the convention in Chicago to voters in key battleground states like Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania who relate to a dad who speaks plainly, wears flannel, coaches football and hunts.

Walz, whose state shares an 885 km border south of Ontario and Manitoba, had a connection to Canada at the convention by playing Neil Young’s iconic song “Rockin’ in the Free World” as he exited the stage.

Alysia Coriz, a member of the Democrats’ Native American caucus, was able to speak with Walz. She said the vice-president said “miigwech,” which means “thank you” in Ojibwe, at the end of his comments.

“That is definitely leadership by example. By being able to make those meaningful connections is where relationships start to be built,” said Coriz, who is from Santo Domingo Pueblo in New Mexico.

Enthusiasm continues to build at the convention and Adam Callery, a Democrat from Chicago, said he thinks it will build until people cast their ballots.

“I think people are very motivated. People are energized,” Callery said.

Wednesday saw big names head to the stage, including former president Bill Clinton and running-mate runner-up Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg. It also included performances by Stevie Wonder and John Legend.

Oprah Winfrey was a last-minute addition to the schedule. She directly appealed to undecided and independent voters.

“Let us choose truth, let us choose honour, and let us choose joy,” she said.

Meanwhile, Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, said the country is looking for an administration willing to deepen its defence relationships as NATO allies watch closely to see what the convention may reveal about how Harris could approach foreign policy.

Hillman expects Harris to follow U.S. President Joe Biden’s lead on defence but says the vice-president has had a different emphasis in her approach: focusing on the Western Hemisphere.

Hillman was speaking on a panel about NATO on Tuesday with U.K. Ambassador Karen Pierce and Estonian Ambassador Kristjan Prikk on the sidelines of the convention in Chicago.

The convention has provided little insight. Former President Barack Obama said in a speech Tuesday that America shouldn’t be the “world’s policeman.” But, he added, it “must be a force for good: discouraging conflict, fighting disease, promoting human rights, protecting the planet from climate change, defending freedom.”

The first night of the convention saw Biden speak about his administration’s accomplishments, which he said included strengthening NATO and pushing back on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Concerns over Biden’s health and the possibility of a second Donald Trump presidency cast a shadow over the defence alliance leaders’ summit in Washington, D.C., last month. Just over a week later, Biden announced he was ending his presidential run.

Trump has spoken harshly about NATO and threatened not to defend members who don’t meet spending targets, of which Canada is one. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last month that Canada expects to hit its target of two per cent of national gross domestic product on defence by 2032.

Many European leaders have said support for the defence alliance has become even more important with Russia’s war against Ukraine. But Trump has mused about ending aid to Ukraine.

Democratic Rep. Jim Himes called publicly for Biden to step away as the Democratic candidate after the NATO summit. Himes said the stakes were too great to risk losing.

“A Donald Trump presidency is a presidency in which we probably walk away from our commitment to our allies in NATO, probably walk away from support to Ukraine, probably do a bunch of things (to) hearten Vladimir Putin,” Himes said during a talk at the CNN-Politico Grill on the sidelines of the convention.

Supporters have said Harris sees the importance of global security and defence alliances.

Among opportunities under a new administration, Hillman also noted that Canada is keen to talk to its allies in AUKUS, a U.S.-led alliance with the United Kingdom and Australia.

Earlier this year, Trudeau mused about exploring the possibility of joining AUKUS for its second phase, which is focused on advanced capabilities like quantum computing, AI and cyber technologies.

“We feel optimistic about everything we bring to that partnership,” Hillman said during the CNN-Politico Grill panel.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 21, 2024.

— With files from The Associated Press

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press