Kamala Harris-Tim Walz ticket debuts to raucous crowd in Philadelphia

A few miles north of 2300 Arena – known for hosting pro wrestling cards and other events – including a rally featuring GOP vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance Tuesday afternoon – Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker asked the 10,000-plus people packed into Temple University’s Liacouras Center a question: “Are you ready to rumble?”

Judging by the roar in response from the crowd assembled to see and hear from the newly-minted Democratic presidential ticket – and the series of chants, which included “Not going back,” “USA,” and “Lock him up” that rang through the arena – the answer was “yes.”

The Kamala Harris-Tim Walz ticket made its first public appearance at a Tuesday event in Philadelphia just hours after the vice president announced she had tapped the Minnesota governor as her running mate.

Gov. Josh Shapiro, a VP finalist, joined the Democratic candidates for president and vice president to help kick off the homestretch of the 2024 presidential campaign. Shapiro’s speech, which received an extended ovation from the crowd, was just the beginning of one of the most energetic campaign rallies to take place in Philadelphia in recent memory. 

“Kamala Harris has always understood that you (have to) be there every day for the people. She has served with honest and dignity,” Shapiro said Tuesday. “That’s a hell of a stark contrast to the guy running on the other side.”

Following the announcement of Walz as Harris’s vice presidential pick, Shapiro released a statement supporting her campaign and saying he looks forward to continuing his work in the commonwealth. 

“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 a statement Tuesday morning. “I’m proud of how Americans all across the country have taken notice of what we’re accomplishing here in Pennsylvania. I’m excited to continue working to protect and advance real freedom, deliver good schools, safe communities, and economic opportunity.”

Harris was accompanied by other local, state and federal lawmakers, including U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman. 

Harris and Walz received a loud welcome from the crowd and doubled down on what many of the event’s previous speakers said: The country is “not going back” to the way their opponents want it to be. 

“We’re an underdog but we have the momentum. And I know exactly what we’re up against,” Harris said, noting her prosecutorial experience during her time as district attorney and attorney general. “I took on perpetrators of all kinds – predators who abused women…and cheaters who broke the rules for their own gain. Hear me when I say: I know Donald Trump’s type.”

In 2020, the Keystone State lived up to its name during the presidential election, with President Joe Biden flipping the state after Donald Trump took it in 2016 on his way to winning the presidency. Election results in 2020 – despite Trump’s baseless fraud claims – showed Biden with a 50-48 margin of victory in the commonwealth. In Philadelphia, Biden won by an 81-18 margin. The city’s voter turnout that year was the highest since 1984: Roughly 750,000 of Philadelphia’s 1.1 million registered voters casting a ballot. Biden also received about 20,000 more Philadelphia votes in 2020 than Hillary Clinton did in 2016. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, recent polls show Harris with a slim lead over Trump in the commonwealth. FiveThirtyEight’s polling average, adjusted based on state and national polls, has Harris leading Trump 45.1 to 43.4% – a 1.7% margin. Similar polls in the last few weeks showed Trump leading then-candidate Biden by about 2%, but Biden’s decision to withdraw and have Harris take over the ticket restarted the campaign in many ways with under 100 days until the November election. 

In his debut as a vice presidential candidate, Walz spoke about the stakes of the election and what the country experienced during the Trump presidency. 

“Thank you for bringing back the joy,” Walz said. “Trump weakens our economy to strengthen his own hand. He sows chaos and division – and that’s to say nothing about his record as president.” 

It’s not the first time Harris has visited the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection during this campaign cycle, including in May, when she joined Biden to help launch the Black Voters for Biden-Harris campaign at Girard College. 

Harris has also visited the commonwealth in recent months, including in early May when she delivered the keynote address at the 2024 Service Employees International Union’s international convention.

Following the rally, U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean reflected on the enthusiastic reception from the crowd and what a messenger like Shapiro could mean for the Harris-Walz ticket. 

“I am overjoyed with the hope and the optimism for our future,” Dean told reporters. “Josh will be right by their side lifting up this ticket. This is a ticket that believes in the American values of small ‘D’ democracy, rule of law and freedom. It couldn’t be a greater contrast” to their opponents.