Tim Walz Touts Nebraska Roots In Speech That Played To The Crowd

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Tim Walz touted his Nebraska roots Saturday in his first trip back to his home state since becoming the Democratic vice presidential nominee, and drew sharp contrasts between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

Playing to the crowd, Walz noted his love of Nebraska football and joked about the historical significance of the Stonehenge replica built out of classic cars known as Carhenge that sits near where he taught in the Panhandle. He then emphasized the values he learned growing up of helping neighbors and minding everyone’s own business.

“More than anything else — just like here in Nebraska — Minnesota’s strength comes from our values,” he said about the state he serves as governor.

Walz stressed that he and Harris believe in helping all Americans succeed — not just the millionaires and billionaires he said Trump wants to help. It was all part of his appeal for the lone electoral vote in Omaha’s swing Second Congressional District that can be split off from the rest of the heavily Republican state.

Going after Republicans as intrusive in people’s everyday lives, Walz said the fact they want to make decisions about Americans’ health care including abortion rights and try to hurt Social Security is “not just weird, it’s dangerous. And when they try to overturn elections, that’s not just weird, it’s un-American.”

He said Trump and his fellow Republicans are “super concerned with our bedrooms, our exam rooms and libraries.”

Nebraska Democrats Chairwoman Jane Kleeb joked near the start of the event that Omaha has a new nickname, “Kamaha,” as she encouraged everyone at the rally to work hard to elect Harris and Walz in November.

Supporters hope Walz’s knowledge of rural America — he grew up in the small towns