Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, took his campaign to York County, Pennsylvania, following a 90-minute debate with U.S. Senator JD Vance in New York City. Walz's visit, part of his effort to engage rural voters, was marked by sharp criticisms of Vance's debate performance and calls for policies like same-day voter registration.
During the debate, which aired the previous night, Walz and Vance sparred over key issues, including the legacy of former President Donald Trump.
The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported that while post-debate polls showed a split in voter opinion, Walz used the rally to emphasize his views on Vance’s failure to provide clear answers about certifying the 2020 election results.
He pointed to former Vice President Mike Pence as a model of upholding the Constitution, contrasting it with Vance's ambiguous stance.
Walz called the debate "civil but spirited," using the event to underscore what he described as Vance’s “gaslighting” on Trump’s record.
The Minnesota governor told the crowd of over 2,000 gathered at the York Fairgrounds that while he was speaking to the American people, Vance seemed to be addressing a narrower, more partisan audience.
Walz criticized Vance for not clearly affirming the legitimacy of the 2020 election during their debate. “In that 88th minute last night,” Walz said, “Senator Vance made it clear he will always make a different choice than Mike Pence made,” referring to Pence’s decision to certify the election results despite pressure from Trump.
U.S. Senator John Fetterman, a native of York County, lent his support to Walz during the rally.
Fetterman echoed Walz's criticisms of Vance, poking fun at the senator's ties to the MAGA movement. In a light-hearted moment, Fetterman commented on Vance's personality, telling the crowd, “You might think, is he really that weird? And I’m here to say yes, I can confirm that.”
The Pennsylvania senator also remarked on how both Vance and Trump once held respectable positions before aligning themselves with far-right politics. Fetterman told the crowd that Vance, like Trump, had “sold their soul to be all about MAGA.”
Walz, who grew up in a small town in Nebraska, made a pointed effort to connect with rural voters during his visit.
He highlighted the Harris campaign’s agenda for rural America, pointing to policies aimed at expanding the small business tax credit and protecting reproductive rights as central to that platform. His call for same-day voter registration in Pennsylvania underscored the campaign’s push to expand voter access ahead of the 2024 election.
Doug Hoke, a York County commissioner, also took the stage to criticize Trump’s record on rural issues. Hoke argued that despite promises made to rural voters during Trump's campaigns, the former president ultimately neglected rural communities once in office.
Walz’s visit marked his fifth trip to Pennsylvania and his second to central Pennsylvania since joining the Democratic ticket.
The Harris campaign has been focusing its outreach efforts in Republican-leaning areas like York County, where GOP candidates have traditionally dominated in past elections. Both the 2016 and 2020 presidential races saw significant Republican victories in the county.
With the Pennsylvania presidential race currently labeled a toss-up by The Cook Political Report, Democrats are making strategic moves in conservative regions. This includes the establishment of field offices in areas like York County, as they seek to engage voters who may be disillusioned with Trump’s leadership.
Despite Walz’s strong showing in York County, recent polls suggest that Vance may still hold a slight edge. A snap poll conducted by Politico/Focaldata immediately after the debate found voters evenly split between the two candidates. Other surveys, however, indicated a slight lead for Vance, though no clear winner emerged from the debate.
Republican strategist Kush Desai dismissed Walz's campaign efforts in Pennsylvania, stating that his visit would not convince voters who are dealing with the challenges of "rising prices, open borders, and disaster on the world stage."
Nevertheless, Walz remained optimistic, continuing his Pennsylvania tour after the York rally with stops at Flinchbaugh’s Orchard and Market and Mofongo Restaurant.
