Harris replacing Biden solidifies traditional blue states, gives Dems a better national outlook
Vice President Kamala Harris being elevated to the top of the Democratic ticket has helped the party regain more steady control of at least one traditional blue state and may have also helped improve the national outlook. Harris leads former President Trump 53-39 among likely voters in the state of New York, according to a Siena College Research Institute poll released Tuesday. While the 14-point lead would typically be considered narrow in a state that Democratic presidential nominees have won by as much as 30 points in recent cycles, it paints an improving picture over the prospects of President Biden, who had held leads of only 8 to 10 points in previous versions of the Siena College poll. KAMALA HARRIS HOLDING RALLY IN PENNSYLVANIA TO INTRODUCE RUNNING MATE AFTER SECURING DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION “The landscape has changed since the last Siena College poll. The change at the top of the Democratic ticket has had a noticeable, while not dramatic, effect on the horserace. Harris has the support of 86% of Democrats, up from the 75% support Biden had in June. And while independent voters support Trump over Harris 47-40%, they supported Trump over Biden 45-28%,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said in a poll press release. “Harris leads with Black voters 81-11%, up from Biden’s 59-29% lead in June.” Harris is helped by having better approval numbers in the solidly blue state compared to both Biden and Trump, with Harris coming in at a 53% favorable, while 43% of respondents view the vice president unfavorably. Trump has only garnered favorability ratings hovering between 37% to 39% in the poll, while Biden’s June rating was underwater at 42-53 in June. “Among all the presidential candidates that are likely to be on New York’s ballot, Harris is the only one with a positive favorability rating,” Greenberg said. “And looking at the race if it is a six-way election, Harris’ lead falls slightly from 14 points to 12 points. At the moment, 11% of voters – and 19% of independents – say they will vote for a minor party candidate.” IT’S OFFICIAL: VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS FORMALLY WINS THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION The poll in the solidly blue state, which has not gone to a Republican candidate since Ronald Reagan’s landslide win in 1984, comes as Harris has closed on Trump in national polls since taking over for Biden at the top of the ticket. According to the Real Clear Politics polling average on Tuesday, Harris now holds a slim lead nationally over Trump. That lead represents a dramatic shift over the outlook the day before Biden dropped out of the race, when Trump held a three-point lead over the incumbent president. Betting markets have also tightened significantly since Biden’s decision to drop out of the race, with the Real Clear Politics Betting Average showing Trump with a 52% chance to win the race and Harris with a 46.3% chance. That number compares favorably to the betting odds a week before Biden’s decision to drop out, when Trump held a 66.2% chance compared to Biden’s 18% and Harris’ 7.3%. The Siena College Research Institute poll was conducted between July 28 and Aug. 1, surveying 1,199 likely voters in New York and having a margin of error of +/- 4.0 percentage points.
Paris organisers scrap Olympic open water swim training in polluted Seine
Athletes competing in the upcoming Olympic marathon swimming events repeatedly face training delays due to water quality issues in the River Seine. Paris Olympics organisers said that training for open water swimming in the River Seine had been cancelled due to pollution, raising questions over why triathletes were allowed to use the waterway the day before. The decision is the fifth time organisers have scrapped training in the river since the start of the Olympic Games on July 28 and is likely to frustrate marathon swimming competitors who must get used to the Seine’s strong currents. A statement from World Aquatics and the organising committee early on Tuesday said that one out of four readings for enterococci bacteria in the river – an indicator of the presence of faecal matter – was above the upper authorised limit. “This decision [to cancel training] has been taken out of an abundance of caution, especially given that another familiarisation swim is scheduled for the following day August 7,” it said. Ever since the River Seine was chosen as a location for the triathlon and marathon swimming, French authorities have been in a race against time to clean up the waterway. The triathlon was badly disrupted by poor bacterial readings last week, with all swim training sessions cancelled and the men’s individual race postponed by 24 hours until Wednesday. A mixed relay race also looked in doubt on Monday, but eventually took place on schedule, with Germany clinching gold in a thrillingly close race that saw the USA and Britain win silver and bronze medals. Marathon swimming – a 10km (6.2-mile) race in open water – is set to take place on Thursday for women and Friday for men. Organisers have said that marathon swimming can be moved to another location in Vaires-sur-Marne on the River Marne east of Paris if the Seine is too polluted to use. They said Tuesday that they were “very confident” that the men’s and women’s events would take place in the Seine. Athletes compete in the swimming stage in the River Seine during the men’s individual triathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 31, 2024 [Julien de Rosa/AFP] Athletes compete in the swimming race in the Seine, during the mixed relay triathlon on August 5, 2024. Athlete training in the waterway was cancelled on August 6, due to pollution, ahead of the marathon open water swim events on Thursday August 8 and Friday August 9 [Franck Fife/AFP] Adblock test (Why?)
Who is Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’s VP pick in US election?
Tim Walz may not be the most recognisable name in the politics of the United States. But from Tuesday onwards, the Minnesota governor will be a leading figure in the presidential campaign as Vice President Kamala Harris’s Democratic running mate. Harris, who has secured her party’s nomination for the November 5 polls, selected Walz as her VP pick, saying she was “proud” of her choice. “As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his. It’s great to have him on the team,” Harris posted on X. Walz said it was the “honour of a lifetime” to be Harris’s vice presidential pick. “I’m all in. It reminds me a bit of the first day of school. So, let’s get this done, folks!” he posted on X. If Harris defeats Republican nominee Donald Trump in the November polls, Walz will be a heartbeat away from the US presidency. While vice presidents’ official duties are limited, they serve as potential heirs and partners in governing at the White House. As running mates, they are top surrogates for the campaign. So who is Walz and where does he stand on the issues driving the US election? Walz, 60, has both executive and legislative experiences. He was first elected governor of Minnesota in 2018 and won a second term four years later. Despite the state not being a traditional Democratic stronghold, Walz won both races with ease. Prior to his gubernatorial tenure, Walz served in the US House of Representatives for 12 years, representing a largely rural district in southern Minnesota. Walz is also a US military veteran, having served in the Army National Guard for 24 years after joining it at the age of 17. Before running for Congress, he worked as a school teacher. On policy, the governor has been lauded by some progressives for being able to advance left-wing priorities in a swing state. Over the past six years, Walz has approved programmes that would cover college tuition for low-income students, implemented free breakfast and lunch at public schools, legalised recreational marijuana for adults and expanded protections for workers. Walz, 60, has both executive and legislative experiences [File: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images via AFP] Walz is also seen as a strong defender of abortion rights. Moreover, he has backed many climate initiatives, including a law to transition Minnesota to carbon-free electricity by 2040. While Republicans are likely to argue that Walz’s record is too liberal, the governor has not shied away from standing by his policies. Asked about being labelled a “big government liberal”, Walz told CNN last month, “What a monster! Kids are eating and having full bellies so they can go learn, and women are making their own healthcare decisions, and we’re a top five business state, and we also rank in the top three in happiness.” “If that’s where they want to label me, I’m more than happy to take the label,” he added. Jennifer Victor, a political science professor at George Mason University, told Al Jazeera Walz is an “interesting choice”, noting that many Americans may not have heard of him before Tuesday. Victor said Walz has a relatable “Midwestern vibe”. “It seems that perhaps Harris has chosen him for these positive attributes that she thinks may make the ticket more appealing to swing voters,” she said. She highlighted Walz’s criticism of Republicans as “weird”, rather than a mortal threat to democracy. “This was not a line of framing that we had seen Democrats successfully use against Republicans in the past, and Walz delivered it in a sort of personable, softer way that I think just resonated with more people,” she said. Beyond domestic policy, the US approach to the war in Gaza and soaring tensions in the Middle East is proving to be a prominent issue in this election cycle. While governors do not dictate foreign policy, Walz has expressed support for Israel and ordered the flags at half-staff in solidarity with the US ally after Hamas’s October 7 attack. While serving in Congress, Walz had also taken pro-Israel positions. “Israel is our truest and closest ally in the region, with a commitment to values of personal freedoms and liberties, surrounded by a pretty tough neighborhood,” he had said in 2010. But in March, after nearly 19 percent of Democratic voters in Minnesota cast “uncommitted” votes to protest President Joe Biden’s unconditional support for Israel, Walz suggested that he understands the growing frustration with the US approach. He said people who voted “uncommitted” have “every right” to be heard. “These folks are asking for a change in course. They’re asking for more pressure to be put on,” Walz told MPR News at that time. “People are frustrated, but it bodes well for me that they’re actively engaged to go out and cast his vote and ask for change,” he said. Adblock test (Why?)
Hezbollah launches drone strikes into Israel
NewsFeed Video shows Israeli police examining the site of a Hezbollah drone strike in northern Israel. The Lebanese group launched a series of drones it says were targeting Israeli military installations. Published On 6 Aug 20246 Aug 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
Tim Walz slammed as ‘political chameleon’ after ditching former pro-Second Amendment stance
Vice President Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will join her on the 2024 Democratic ticket for the White House, despite the pair previously having wildly differing views on the Second Amendment and gun control. “I am proud to announce that I’ve asked @Tim_Walz to be my running mate. As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his. It’s great to have him on the team. Now let’s get to work,” Harris posted to X on Tuesday morning. Walz is in the midst of his second term as Minnesota governor, and previously served as a U.S. congressman in the state from 2007-2019, where he represented a largely rural population. Back when he served as a congressman in a district that typically voted red, Walz was seen as a champion of gun rights and hunting. The National Rifle Association awarded Walz an A rating for his commitment to protecting gun ownership and rejecting gun control laws pushed by left-wing members of the Democratic Party. TRUMP CAMP SAYS HARRIS-WALZ ‘DANGEROUSLY LIBERAL’ TICKET IS ‘EVERY AMERICAN’S NIGHTMARE’ “Tim Walz is a gun owner. He grew up hunting and spent 24 years in the Army National Guard. Now in Congress, Tim stood up time and time again for the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen. It’s why the NRA gave Tim an ‘A’ rating,” a 2010 political ad declared. Walz’s celebration of the Second Amendment included earning him a spot on Guns & Ammo magazine’s 2016 list of 20 top politicians for gun owners. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS NAMES MINNESOTA GOV. TIM WALZ AS HER RUNNING MATE: AP “A Democrat, Rep. Walz proves that gun rights are not always partisan issues. Walz Co-sponsored ATF reform legislation back in 2008 and was a lead sponsor in the SHARE Act,” Walz’s feature on the list reads. “While most congressional Democrats have jumped on the gun control train with both feet, Tim Walz and a few others have stuck to their guns.” Walz has since changed his tune to champion gun control measures, and lost his high marks among the Second Amendment community. The NRA slammed Walz as a “political chameleon” in a statement provided to Fox News Digital on Tuesday after Harris officially announced him as her running mate. “Tim Walz is a political chameleon – changing his positions to further his own personal agenda. In Congress, Walz purported to be a friend of gun owners to receive their support in his rural Minnesota district. Once he had his eyes set on other offices, he sold out law-abiding Minnesotans and promoted a radical gun control agenda that emboldened criminals and left everyday citizens defenseless. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz cannot be trusted to defend freedom and our Constitutional rights,” Randy Kozuch, chairman of the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF), said in a statement. NRA DIGS UP HISTORY TO PUSH BACK ON KAMALA HARRIS’ CLAIM ON ‘ASSAULT’ BAN Walz’s previous gun stances stand in stark contrast to Harris’ celebration in recent years that the Biden administration would take on the NRA and win, citing Biden’s work as a senator when he voted to ban semi-automatic firearms in 1994 as part of a major crime bill. “@JoeBiden has taken on the @NRA and won. He can do it again,” Harris tweeted last year, accompanied by a campaign ad celebrating Biden’s determination to “ban assault weapons.” Biden, while serving as a Delaware senator, voted to ban semi-automatic firearms in 1994 as part of a major crime bill, while the Democrat-majority House at the time passed the ban as a standalone bill. The bill ultimately was incorporated into the sweeping anti-crime package and required exceptions in order to pass, including a sunset provision. WHO IS TIM WALZ? MEET THE HARRIS RUNNING MATE WHO CALLED REPUBLICANS ‘WEIRD PEOPLE’ The bill was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton in September of that year. It enacted a 10-year ban on the manufacture, transfer or possession of “semiautomatic assault weapons” and “large capacity ammunition feeding devices.” The law expired in 2004, when George W. Bush was president and Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress. ‘THANK YOU, KAMALA!’: GLEEFUL REPUBLICANS RIP TIM WALZ AS GOP READIES TO BATTLE PROGRESSIVE DEM TICKET Fast-forward to 2009, when Barack Obama was president, Walz was one of 65 Democrats in the House who signed a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder opposing any bans similar to the one from 1994, the Star Tribune previously reported. Holder notably was chosen by Harris this year to head up the vetting process of the pool of potential veeps before Walz was ultimately chosen. In 2017 and 2018, the then-congressman wildly changed his tune on gun control, joining fellow Democrats in their calls to tighten laws on gun ownership. Walz announced in 2017, following the tragic Las Vegas shooting, that he was donating the roughly $18,000 he received from the NRA to charity. Days after the tragic school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, Walz joined fellow Democrats in calling for gun control measures. Last year, the governor also signed into law universal background checks and a red flag order, which was slammed by Second Amendment groups. Walz wrote in an op-ed in 2018 that his views on guns are “evolving in some ways,” but that he’s “always been a reformer.” “To finally come together to end gun violence, we’ll need a new approach. We’ll need to build a coalition we haven’t seen before: rural, urban, suburban and exurban folks; gun owners and gun-violence survivors; hunters and advocates and police officers and the young people who are stepping up right now. We’ll need a coalition of folks of good faith who haven’t seen eye to eye but respect the different ways of life in every corner of our state,” he wrote in an op-ed published by the Star Tribune in 2018. “That’s how we get things done in Minnesota: We come together. As
Kamala Harris’ VP pick Tim Walz previously charged with DUI in Nebraska before reaching plea deal
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was selected on Tuesday, after weeks of speculation, as the vice presidential running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. Walz took to social media to officially join the Democratic ticket and express his enthusiasm over the decision, writing, “It is the honor of a lifetime to join @kamalaharris in this campaign.” “I’m all in,” he wrote on X. “Vice President Harris is showing us the politics of what’s possible. It reminds me a bit of the first day of school.” IT’S OFFICIAL: VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS FORMALLY WINS THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION Court transcripts from March 13, 1996, reveal that before Walz, a Nebraska native, became a political figure, he was a teacher at Alliance High School in the Cornhusker State. Court documents say that on Sept. 23, 1995, Walz was pursued by a state patrolman when he drove at a speed exceeding 80 mph. Upon suspected intoxication, the former high school basketball and football coach was given a preliminary breath test and a field sobriety test, both of which he failed, according to an article written by the Rochester Post Bulletin in 2006. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS NAMES MINNESOTA GOV. TIM WALZ AS HER RUNNING MATE Walz’s lawyer, Russell Harford, at the time of his 1996 hearing, advised the judge, James Hansen, that the circumstances were “a little bit bizarre” as Walz believed he was being chased and feared that “somebody was after him.” As a result, Walz’s speed then exceeded 90 mph. Court documents recorded that the defense alleged to the court that the patrolman was chasing Walz without sirens. “Finally, he did turn on his red lights,” Harford said, according to the transcripts. HARRIS LAPS TRUMP IN CASH DASH THANKS TO FUNDRAISING SURGE Walz was also administered a blood test proclaiming a .128 blood alcohol concentration level. In court, Harford referred to the BAC as a “relatively low test.” In the U.S., a person is presumed intoxicated if their BAC is above .08. The former high school basketball and football coach was charged with both speeding and driving under the influence, and taken into custody by officers. Pursuant of a plea deal during his hearing, both of Walz’s charges were consequently knocked down to a reckless driving charge, to which Walz pleaded guilty. HARRIS LEANS IN ON BORDER SECURITY AND TRUMP RELISHES THE FIGHT He was fined $200 plus court costs and agreed with the court that his actions while driving were “dangerous” and put lives at risk. While campaigning in 2006, Walz’s former campaign manager, Kerry Greeley, told the Bulletin, that the Midwestern lawmaker was admittedly speeding, but was not drunk. Greeley claimed it was a misunderstanding between Walz and the officer and that, due to his service in the artillery in the U.S. Army National Guard, Walz’s deafness provided him with the inability to hear the officer. “He couldn’t understand what the officer was saying to him,” she told the Bulletin. Walz, a relatively unknown governor, was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006. In 2018, was elected governor of Minnesota. Walz won re-election in 2022 in a race against GOP candidate Scott Jensen. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Illegal immigrants on voter rolls spurs watchdog group to sue Maricopa County
Conservative watchdog group America First Legal is suing an Arizona county for allegedly refusing to remove thousands of illegal immigrants from its voter rolls. “America First Legal is leading the charge to keep illegal aliens from voting in 2024,” AFL president Stephen Miller said in a statement. “Maricopa County, in direct violation of state law, is refusing to remove illegal alien voters from the rolls. We are taking decisive action: suing Maricopa County for unlawfully permitting illegal aliens and foreign citizens to interfere in the 2024 election.” The lawsuit, filed Monday night, which was on behalf of the nonprofit group Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona and Yvonne Cahill, a registered voter and naturalized citizen in Maricopa County, comes as AFL gave Maricopa County one week to address the alleged illegal immigrants on the voter roll. ARIZONA ELECTION WORKER ACCUSED OF STEALING SECURITY DEVICE WAS HIRED DESPITE FELONY THEFT ARREST MONTHS PRIOR In response, Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, through his attorney, stated that he would not take any action and claimed his offfice is already complying with the law. The lawsuit claims that, as of April 2024, over 35,000 registered voters in Arizona had not provided proof of citizenship, limiting them to voting only in federal races, according to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office. The lawsuit alleges that Arizona’s voter registration system creates a split between those who provide proof of citizenship (DPOC) and those who do not. Under Arizona law, DPOC is required for state and local elections, but the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the federal voter registration form does not mandate this requirement. Consequently, Arizona has a bifurcated system where voters who use the federal form – known as Federal-Only Voters – are restricted to voting only in federal elections. ‘NEVER TRUMPERS’ COALESCE BEHIND DEM TICKET IN REPUBLICANS FOR HARRIS CAMPAIGN “The number of Federal-Only Voters in Maricopa County increases each month,” the lawsuit alleges. In 2022, Arizona enacted two laws imposing stricter voter list maintenance requirements for Federal-Only Voters. These laws mandate that county recorders conduct monthly maintenance to verify citizenship and check newly registered Federal-Only Voters within ten days. “Recorder Richer has failed to perform this required list maintenance,” the lawsuit claimed. Since the 2020 election, Maricopa County has been at the center of controversies over election integrity and procedures. The county, a key battleground, has faced claims of widespread voter fraud, including allegations of improper ballot handling and voting machine malfunctions. However, most of these claims have been dismissed by courts and election officials. KARI LAKE WINS GOP NOD, SETTING UP GENERAL ELECTION BATTLE WITH GALLEGO FOR SINEMA’S SEAT In June, a temporary election worker in Maricopa County was captured on surveillance video allegedly stealing a “digital magnetic key” from a tabulation center, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. He had been arrested previously for allegedly removing a total of $1,800 in cash from the register while working as a cashier at a nearby grocery store, according to the documents. Fox News Digital did not hear back from the Maricopa County Recorder’s office prior to publication deadline. Get the latest updates on the ongoing border crisis from the Fox News Digital immigration hub. Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.
Obama takes subtle swipe at Vance while praising Walz as ‘ideal’ Harris running mate
Former President Barack Obama released a statement Tuesday celebrating Vice President Kamala Harris’s selection for her running mate in the 2024 election. Commenting on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who will be running for vice president alongside Harris, Obama took a swipe at former President Donald Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD. Vance from Ohio. “When a presidential candidate chooses a running mate, it says a lot about who they are and what kind of president they’ll be. Do they pick someone inexperienced and polarizing who will deepen our divisions?” Obama asked. “Or do they pick someone with the judgment to make tough decisions, and the character to believe that every voice counts and everyone deserves an equal chance?” MEET KAMALA HARRIS’ RUNNING MATE WHO CALLED REPUBLICANS ‘WEIRD PEOPLE’ The former president seemed to frame his statement in line with fellow Democrats’ accusations that Vance is “weird” and out of touch with U.S. voters. The freshman senator from Ohio has made headlines with his criticisms of “childless cat ladies” running the federal government — a quip lamenting what Vance sees as anti-family policies. Democrats have used that sound bite and others to paint Vance as a hostile or mean-spirited running mate. “Tim’s signature is his ability to talk like a human being and treat everyone with decency and respect,” Obama said. “Not all that surprising considering the fact that he served in the National Guard for 24 years and worked as a high school social studies teacher and football coach before being elected to Congress.” VANCE NEEDS TO FIX ‘OFF-PUTTING’ COMMENTS OR TRUMP CAMPAIGN IS ‘DOOMED,’ SAY UNDECIDED AND GOP WOMEN VOTERS The naming of the 60-year-old Walz was not a shocker, as his name was instantly thought to be in contention in the two weeks since Harris succeeded President Biden as the party’s standard-bearer. Walz, a former congressman, is in his second term as governor of Minnesota, a state that Democrats have reliably won in presidential elections for decades but that the Trump campaign has aimed at flipping this cycle. “I am proud to announce that I’ve asked [Tim Walz] to be my running mate,” Harris officially announced on X Tuesday. “As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his.” “It’s personal,” she said. “He grew up in a small town in Nebraska, spending summers working on his family’s farm. His father died of cancer when he was 19, and his family relied on Social Security survivor benefit checks to make ends meet. At 17, he enlisted in the National Guard, serving for 24 years. He used his GI Bill benefits to go to college, and become a teacher.” Having the plainspoken Walz on the national ticket not only helps Harris in Minnesota, it also benefits the vice president in the two neighboring Midwestern battleground states of Wisconsin and Michigan. Walz, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, may also help Harris when it comes to bringing in campaign cash, as he has helped steer the DGA to record-breaking fundraising this year. Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser, Brooke Singman, Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
Walz backed ‘sanctuary’ policies, services for illegal immigrants as governor: ‘Win for open borders’
Vice President Kamala Harris’ announcement of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate has already brought fresh scrutiny on his record on immigration and border security – including his support of driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants and calls to make Minnesota a sanctuary state. Moments after the pick was reported, Republicans hammered the choice, with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley describing a Harris/Walz ticket as “a win for open borders, socialism, and Iran.” The Republican National Committee immediately hit him on his record, accusing him of flooding illegal immigrants with benefits. It noted Walz’s creation of an “Office of New Americans” to help immigrants and refugees integrate into the United States. WHO IS TIM WALZ? MEET THE HARRIS RUNNING MATE WHO CALLED REPUBLICANS ‘WEIRD PEOPLE’ The RNC also pointed to measures that became law during Walz’s time as governor. The committee highlighted his signing of a bill into law last year that allows illegal immigrants to get a driver’s license. “Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are two open borders, weak on crime, defund the police liberals who make up the most radical, far-left ticket in the history of our country,” RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement. Walz last week dismissed former President Trump’s efforts to build additional walls at the southern border, quipping that if he did, he’d invest in a ladder factory. “He talks about this wall, I always say, let me know how high it is. If it’s 25 feet, then I’ll invest in the 30-foot ladder factory,” he said on CNN. “That’s not how you stop this.” During Walz’s time as governor, Democrats passed measures to make illegal immigrants eligible for a tuition-free college program, Axios reported, and also expanded access to the state’s MinnesotaCare to include those in the country illegally. In 2018, he appeared to voice support for “sanctuary policies.” “My position on Minnesota becoming a sanctuary state boils down to who has the responsibility for enforcing immigration laws,” he told CBS News in 2018. “Here’s what I believe: Congress has given federal agencies the authority to enforce immigration laws in Minnesota, and I support their doing so. Congress has not given local law enforcement that same authority. The role of law enforcement is to enforce state and local laws, not federal immigration laws, and I strongly believe that they should not do so.” “All Minnesotans are safer when the limited resources of local law enforcement are focused on local crimes, and when everyone feels safe to cooperate fully with the police. For example, if your neighbor witnesses someone breaking into your home, you are safer when your neighbor knows their immigration status is not at risk if they call the police.” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., hit Walz for those remarks and past positions. “The most liberal ‘nominee’ to ever appear on a presidential ballot has now chosen a progressive running mate who has voiced support for socialism, supports sanctuary cities, and wants to give driver’s licenses to the millions of illegal aliens Kamala Harris has allowed into our country,” Johnson said. Texas Gov. Greg Abott called the pairing “the most dangerous P/VP ticket ever.” “She supports free health care to illegal immigrants. He signed laws giving state services to them. Both provide magnets for more illegal immigration,” he said on X. As a congressman, Walz drew criticism from immigration hawks and praise from left-wing activist groups. The American Immigration Lawyer’s Association (AILA) gave him 100% ratings for his votes. Meanwhile, NumbersUSA gave him a D career rating, and an F- for the 115th Congress. NumbersUSA, which calls for lower levels of immigration, pointed to his cosponsoring of the American Promise Act, which would grant a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants protected by Temporary Protected Status (TPS). It also pointed to his votes on bills limiting the practice of family separation, and to increase refugee numbers. TRUMP CAMP SAYS HARRIS-WALZ ‘DANGEROUSLY LIBERAL’ TICKET IS ‘EVERY AMERICAN’S NIGHTMARE’ However, the group noted positively a 2008 vote to increase funding for the construction of a border fence, and a 2012 measure to place cell towers on the border for Border Patrol agents to use. As governor, he came under pressure from state Republicans, who wanted him to join other governors in sending the National Guard and other solutions to fix the crisis at the border. “Walz’ refusal to step in and help Border Patrol and law enforcement is inexcusable,” the Republican Governors’ Association said in 2021. “He must put politics aside and stop turning a blind eye to the massive humanitarian and security crisis at our border.” The Harris campaign’s statement announcing Walz as her running mate did not mention any achievements or positions on immigration or border security and the Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his past positions. In a statement, Harris touted his convictions “on fighting for middle class families.” “As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his own. We are going to build a great partnership,” she said. “We start out as underdogs but I believe together, we can win this election.”
Former top VP contender expresses ‘enthusiastic support’ for Harris-Walz ticket after not being selected
Despite not being chosen as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro affirmed his unwavering support for her and the 2024 Democratic ticket, announcing his commitment to campaign vigorously in a Tuesday morning social media post. Harris named Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday – a last-minute decision that reportedly came down to Walz and Shapiro. Shapiro went through a two-week vetting process leading up to Tuesday’s announcement, reportedly speaking with Harris on Sunday, but he was ultimately not selected. “Nearly two weeks ago, Vice President Harris asked me to work with her team to complete the vetting process to be considered as her running mate – and following those conversations, on Sunday, I was grateful to have the opportunity to speak with the Vice President directly about her vision for the role and the campaign ahead,” Shapiro said in his first statement released after Harris’ decision to move forward with Walz as her running mate. VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS NAMES MINNESOTA GOV. TIM WALZ AS HER RUNNING MATE Shapiro added that he looks forward to completing his current, four-year term as governor. “The running mate decision was a deeply personal decision for the Vice President – and it was also a deeply personal decision for me,” he said. “Pennsylvanians elected me to a four-year term as their Governor, and my work here is far from finished – there is a lot more stuff I want to get done for the good people of this Commonwealth.” In his statement, the Pennsylvania governor expressed support for the Democratic ticket, revealing he has a good relationship with Walz. “Vice President Kamala Harris has my enthusiastic support – and I know that Governor Tim Walz is an exceptionally strong addition to the ticket who will help Kamala move our country forward. Lori and I consider Tim and Gwen to be good friends of ours and we are excited for them and for the country to get to know the great people we know them to be.” Shapiro said he will spend “the next 92 days” before the election traveling around his state to campaign to “unite” voters on behalf of the Harris-Walz ticket.