CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who turned a camouflage cap into an emblem of the Harris-Walz campaign’s bid to win battleground voters, will introduce himself to the nation again Wednesday in a prime-time convention speech organizers say will highlight the “small-town values” that have shaped him.
Other headliners include former President Bill Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro — whom presidential nominee Kamala Harris passed over for her running mate, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
But don’t expect any new details on the nascent campaign’s policies or agenda, organizers said.
Campaign spokesman Michael Tyler, donning the now-iconic Harris-Walz camo hat, told reporters Wednesday that Mr. Walz’s marquee address at the United Center will provide the biggest introduction to a national audience since Vice President Harris chose him as her running mate on Aug. 6. He has been barnstorming swing states with her and on solo campaign stops.
“The vast majority of the American people - a wider swath of the electorate - is going to have the opportunity to fully understand and get to know Governor Walz as someone who was a school teacher, a football coach… congressman and governor,” Mr. Tyler said.
The theme of the convention’s third day, organizers said, is “fight for our freedoms,” and will showcase how Ms. Harris has “spent her entire career fighting for America’s freedoms,” and that is the reason she picked Mr. Walz, 60.
“Governor Walz has always been somebody who’s fought for the vulnerable, who’s fought for those in need, who’s taken on special interests for the benefit of the people he represents,” Mr. Tyler said.
The address won’t fill in the blanks on the still vague Harris-Walz agenda, which has so far unveiled one policy paper addressing proposals to lower the cost of groceries, rent, new homes purchase and prescription drugs.
As of Wednesday, less than a month before early voting begins in some states, the Harris-Walz campaign page does not list policy priorities or an agenda. The two have not held a press conference.
Mr. Tyler said the goal of the convention is to “fully cement the introductory period of this campaign.”
Ms. Harris, 59, won the nomination on Aug. 2, roughly two weeks after President Biden quit the race and endorsed her as his replacement.
She picked Mr. Walz to run on the ticket with her four days later. Since then, the two have remained largely ambiguous on how a Harris-Walz administration would address energy, border security and other critical policies.
“I’m not going to get out ahead of further policy rollouts that we’ll have, but the American people have plenty of time to see more details as we roll them out for the duration of this campaign,” Mr. Tyler said.
The pair released a policy memo on Aug. 16 laying out an “agenda to lower costs for American families.”
It quickly spurred backlash over plans to ban price gouging, which some warned would lead to price controls and food shortages, and to provide $25,000 for new home buyers, even if they are not American citizens.
Ms. Harris is scheduled to address the convention on Thursday, the closing night.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.