Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told rural voters Tuesday that Vice President Kamala Harris will “have rural America’s back” if their Democratic ticket wins in November.
Standing in front of hay bales, Mr. Walz told farmers and other small-town supporters that “nobody is coming for your guns,” but a Harris administration will insist on background checks for gun sales. He joked that while he and Ms. Harris could both pass a background check — they both own firearms — former President Donald Trump couldn’t pass a background check.
“Vice president and I can pass ’em. On the other side of the ticket? You know, the 34 felonies?” Mr. Walz said during a campaign stop in western Pennsylvania. “Nobody is coming from your guns, but we are going make sure that your kids can go to school without being shot dead in the classroom.”
The governor said Mr. Trump “didn’t do a damn thing” for rural America and potential trade wars will harm farmers. He said the Democratic ticket would fight “agricultural monopolies” that would hurt small family farms.
Mr. Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, also said rural America would play a key part in the effort to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as wind power.
Mr. Walz visited Volant, Pennsylvania, a tiny town an hour’s drive north of Pittsburgh.
The Keystone State is one of seven states that will likely determine who wins the White House. The others are Georgia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Nevada.
Each of them are politically divided but rich in electoral votes that will help candidates get to 270 votes under the Electoral College.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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