Tim Walz’s final pitch for Harris to Wisconsin voters in Milwaukee

On the eve of Election Day, Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz delivered closing remarks to Wisconsin voters at a Monday evening rally, telling supporters that their votes could determine not just the next four years, but the next 40 years.

“We’re in the last two minutes of this game,” Walz said, drawing on his experience as a high school football coach to show confidence in the outcome. “Draw. But we have the damn ball!”

Walz, the Minnesota governor, wrapped up his whirlwind campaign in Wisconsin at the State Fair Center with Milwaukee musician Eric Benet and a couple hundred supporters.

This event marked the last stop of the campaign in this battleground state, where Marquette’s latest poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in a statistical tie, and how the last two presidential elections in Wisconsin were won by 23,000 votes or less.

Here are some takeaways from Walz’s latest rally in Wisconsin:

Moore, Evers and Baldwin take final step to get voters to turn out

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore and Gov. Tony Evers opened the hourlong Democratic rally by urging everyone who has not yet voted to cast their ballots and vote blue.

She was followed by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who is locked in a tight battle with businessman Eric Hovde. She said the path to the presidency and control of the Senate runs directly through Wisconsin.

“No pressure!” she joked. “No pressure.”

Baldwin portrayed her opponent as an out-of-touch Californian, prompting boos from the crowd.

Borrowing a line from former President Barack Obama, Baldwin told the crowd, “Don’t boo, vote!”

The all-out sprint is almost complete

Walz took the stage to John Mellencamp’s “Small Town.” It was his 12th stop in Wisconsin in the last three months.

“As you probably know, there will be a small election tomorrow,” he said. “Tomorrow we have the opportunity to shape the future for future generations.”

Walz asked the men in the room to think about the women in their lives and the stakes they face as abortion protections are no longer guaranteed. He described the energy Harris had built up around the campaign in such a short time and asked the crowd to imagine what she would be doing four years from now.

“She brought back the joy,” he said, before leading the crowd in applause: “No! I’m coming! Back!”

“Wisconsin, win this case for America!” – he shouted.

Former student recalls class with Walz in 2001

Among the rally participants was one of Walz’s former students, Kyle Palmer. He said that took Walz’s advanced geography course at Mankato West High School in 2001.and an English class taught by Gwen Walz.

“These were teachers who would interact with you, and they would indicate their interests, of course, but they wanted you to give them feedback, like what you were thinking about and how you felt about the world, so they could help you understand it. “,” Palmer, of Chicago, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I always liked their classes. I ended up getting a master’s degree in public administration, and Tim Walz played a big role in that.”

Palmer recalled small gestures, like sharing mixtapes with Walz students, and big moments, like helping the class prepare for the Sept. 11 attacks.

Walz “demonstrated a history of improving the world around him,” Palmer wrote in his article. essay published on Medium over the weekend. He campaigned for his former South Milwaukee high school teacher on Sunday and Monday and plans to continue knocking on doors on Election Day.

Republicans criticize Harris’ approach to the economy

Walz said Harris will prioritize lowering the cost of living for families and putting money back into people’s pockets.

Trump’s team said Wisconsinites have already suffered from “four years of Kamalanomics.” The campaign says the former president is focused on tax cuts, including eliminating taxes on tips, Social Security and overtime.

“Tim Walz’s big empty words will not fool Wisconsin voters,” Trump Wisconsin communications director Jacob Fischer said in a statement. “In about 24 hours, Wisconsin voters will vote loudly for President Trump to fix what Kamala Harris broke.”

Musician Eric Benet takes the stage after the Waltz

R&B singer Benetwho has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, closed the event with a pair of songs.

Benet showed his hometown pride after Trump called Milwaukee “terrible city” this summer. The artist wrote: “Love me Milwaukee. Best hometown I know!” on Instagram last June.

Backstage Monday, Benet said he looked into Walz’s eyes as the Minnesota governor told him he and Harris would win. This prompted Benet to make his own prediction.

“November 6th, maybe around 1 a.m., I think a lot of people will be interested in the lyrics to this song,” he said, then launched into Johnny Nash’s “Now I See Clear.”

Now I can see clearly that the rain has stopped

I see all the obstacles in my way

The dark clouds that made me blind are gone.

It’ll be bright (bright)

Bright (bright) sunny day

Contact Kelly Meyerhofer at [email protected] or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer.