Tim Walz goes on the attack in biggest speech of his life: Kamala Harris’ VP takes pointed dig at J.D. Vance in primetime debut full of sports metaphors

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called the Republican agenda odd and said he was “ready to turn the page” when he accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president of the United States.

Kamala Harris’ running mate won the state’s election on Wednesday night at the third night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, while his wife Gwen and their children Hope and Gus stood by visibly emotional.

The crowd held up red, white and blue signs reading “Coach Walz” as the 60-year-old governor delivered a folksy speech emphasizing what it means to be a good neighbor and making several references to coaching, before also taking aim at his political opponents.

“It is my honor to accept your nomination for Vice President of the United States,” Walz said to loud applause shortly after taking the stage.

“We love this country, so thank you to all of you here in Chicago and to everyone watching at home tonight,” Walz said. “Thank you for your passion, thank you for your determination and most of all thank you for bringing joy to this fight.”

For millions of Americans, Walz’s acceptance into the United Center was their first introduction to a former civics teacher, football coach and congressman who served in the National Guard for 24 years.

Walz recounted his childhood in a small Nebraska town and joked that none of the 24 students in his class had gone to Yale, a clear dig at his opponent, Donald Trump’s running mate J.D. Vance.

“I’ll tell you one thing, when you grow up in a small town like that, you learn how to take care of each other. That family down the road, they may not think like you, they may not pray like you, they may not love each other like you, but they’re neighbors.”

The vice presidential candidate recounted his first attempt to win a seat in Congress in a Republican district in 2006.

“Never underestimate a public school teacher,” Walz said as the crowd cheered.

It’s been a hectic few weeks for Walz since he was plucked from relative obscurity outside the political world and Minnesota and thrust into the global spotlight.

But Walz has quickly emerged as a formidable attack dog during the campaign.

Walz said, “Some people just don’t understand what it takes to be a good neighbor.” He said that as a teacher elected by his students to be student body president, he could teach Donald Trump “a lot.”

“Leaders don’t stand around all day insulting people and blaming others. Leaders do the work,” he said. “So I don’t know about you, I’m ready to turn the page on these guys, so go ahead, say it with me, we’re not going back.”

He called their agenda “absolutely strange” but also warned that it is “dangerous.”

Harris’ campaign sent him and Harris on a tour of the United States to introduce him to the country.

But his public introduction has not been without controversy. Republicans have accused him of inflating his military record and attacked his progressive tenure as governor.

The convention schedule Wednesday night was a star-studded event, combining a series of speeches in support of the ticket and to further introduce Walz to the American people and pay tribute to his home state of Minnesota.

Oprah Winfrey stopped by to offer her support for the vice president, while Mindy Kaley hosted the primetime event.

The evening in Minnesota was also graced by a tribute to Prince from John Legend and Sheila E., who honored his home state.

Walz was nominated by his fellow Minnesota senator, Amy Klobuchar, and one of his former students and neighbors, Ben Ingman.

“A former coach knows how to level the playing field, and a former public school teacher knows how to educate people like J.D. Vance,” the senator said, calling Walz the “dad in plaid.”

Ingman described Walz as the type of person you could count on to help free a snowdrift, having pushed him out of the snowdrift himself.

During the nomination, Ingman was joined on stage by former Mankato West redshirt football players and former head coach Rick Sutton.

Earlier in the evening, a nearly four-minute video was played, narrated by Walz’s wife, Gwen, about the governor. The video included a short biography and clips of him with his children and others.

Walz recounted how they met, both as teachers sharing a classroom. She also told how her husband’s students inspired him to run for Congress and how they promoted his work on agriculture and veterans’ issues.

There were also videos featuring former students and people who served with him in the National Guard.

Walz concluded his speech with a football metaphor.

“Let me finish with this team. It’s the fourth quarter, we’re down a field goal, but we’re on offense and we have the ball,” Walz said. “And boy, do we have the right team.”