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Recap: Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, JD Vance make campaign stops in Eau Claire

Hope Karnopp, Laura Schulte, Rachel Hale, Mary Spicuzza, Jessie Opoien, Lawrence Andrea and Alison Dirr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated
13 min read

For a few hours Wednesday afternoon, the national political spotlight landed on the western Wisconsin city of Eau Claire.

Vice President Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, held a rally there as part of their swing through key battleground states.

At around the same time, Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance spoke at an Eau Claire manufacturing company.

Journal Sentinel journalists provided live coverage of both events. Here's a recap:

Livestream replay: Kamala Harris, Tim Walz speak in Eau Claire

Livestream replay: JD Vance speaks in Eau Claire

More than 12,000 attend Harris-Walz rally

The campaign stop in Eau Claire by Harris and Walz drew more than 12,000 attendees, according to an official with the campaign.

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Jessie Opoien

Harris, Walz call race a fight for freedoms

A little more than 24 hours earlier Harris tapped Walz as her running mate for a 90-day sprint to Nov. 5. Now, Walz crossed his state’s eastern border seeking votes from his neighbors.

“Being a Midwesterner, I know a thing or two about commitment to the American people," the Minnesota Democrat told a large crowd packed around an outdoor stage just north of downtown Eau Claire.

“This is a campaign about where we’re going, and that’s a future where everyone matters, everyone is included,” Walz said.

Harris and Walz largely echoed remarks they made a night before in Philadelphia. They framed the race as a fight for freedoms, highlighting health care access, gun violence laws and lowering costs as top issues.

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“We’re not going back,” Harris said, calling Republican candidate Donald Trump’s vision a “plan to weaken the middle class.”

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— Lawrence Andrea

Kamala Harris, Tim Walz offer praise to Gov. Tony Evers, Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Both Walz and Harris praised Wisconsin’s Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, with Walz referring to the second-term governor as potentially the “kindest human being” he had ever met and Harris describing him as the “most magnificent, wonderful governor.”

“Every time I come to Wisconsin, Tony meets me on the tarmac. He's such an incredible human being,” Harris said.

Harris and Walz also had kind words for U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who faces a challenge from Republican businessman Eric Hovde as she seeks a third term.

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“(In the Senate) she was always, always, always fighting for the people of this state, and in November, we are going to reelect her to the United States Senate,” Harris said.

— Jessie Opoien

Wisconsin farmer praises Walz as ‘a lifelong Midwesterner’

Speaking at the rally before Walz and Harris, Chippewa Valley farmer Les Danielson praised Harris’ decision to pick Walz as her running mate.

“My story is a Wisconsin story, one of hard work and perseverance,” he said. “And that's why I'm glad and excited that Vice President Harris' running mate is a lifelong Midwesterner.”

Danielson, a fourth-generation farmer, said the pair would stand up for rural America.

“Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz know that rural America is the backbone of our nation,” he said. “It's family farms like mine that feed our country and small businesses and towns like Cadott that keep our economy strong.”

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Mary Spicuzza

Marquette poll finds JD Vance viewed more unfavorably than favorably

The Marquette University Law School released Wednesday provided some of the first insights about how Wisconsin voters feel about Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance, who was nominated at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July.

In the poll, 31% of Wisconsin voters viewed Vance favorably and 41% unfavorably, while 29% didn't give an opinion.

More than three-quarters of Republicans considered Vance an "excellent" or "good" pick for vice president. Independents were more mixed, and two-thirds of Democrats considered Vance a "poor" choice.

Walz was announced as Harris' running mate after the poll was conducted, so Marquette hasn't yet asked Wisconsin voters about their perceptions of him.

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— Hope Karnopp

More: Marquette poll takeaways: Kamela Harris campaign rejuvenates Wisconsin Democrats

Kamala Harris to Girl Scout: ‘I’m planning on going somewhere in 90 days’

When Air Force Two landed in Eau Claire, Harris and Walz were greeted by a number of Wisconsin officials — and a group of Girl Scouts.

The Girl Scouts, who were reportedly from Troop #3307, were wearing shirts that said, “This is a country of possibilities.”

Vice President Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, greet a group of children after arriving at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on August 7, 2024.
Vice President Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, greet a group of children after arriving at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on August 7, 2024.

According to a pool report, the scouts were talking about their plans, and Harris answered, “I’m planning on going somewhere in 90 days.”

The other greeters included Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, Chair Nancy Coffey of the Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors and President Emily Berge from the Eau Claire City Council.

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Per the pool report, Vance’s plane could be seen taxiing in the distance shortly after AF 2 landed.

— Mary Spicuzza

JD Vance largely takes questions from the media

Wollard International employees flanked Vance as he spoke on the manufacturing floor of the warehouse.

There was no stage at the small event, and instead a small group of supporters and media gathered around a podium to hear from the vice presidential hopeful. No one spoke at the event aside from Vance, and no other local or state politicians were in the gathered group.

Vance took questions on Wisconsin topics from election integrity to local hospital closures and the failed Foxconn deal negotiated during Trump's first term.

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"President Trump and I want there to be a free and fair election because we want every legal vote to count. That's the hallmark of America's constitutional republic is that everybody's vote has to count. But for everybody's vote to count, everything has to be safe and secure," he said. "I feel a lot of confidence about Wisconsin, but certainly as a campaign, we're going to continue to monitor things. We're going to continue to make sure that people are doing things the right way."

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— Laura Schulte and Alison Dirr

JD Vance launches his remarks with dig at Harris for ignoring media

JD Vance started his speech at Wollard International, which manufactures on-the-ground aviation equipment, by slamming Harris for not taking any questions from media in recent weeks, since her announcement as the Democratic nominee.

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“Now it’s well-known, of course, that President Trump and I will go anywhere, will answer any question because we respect the American people enough to actually ask them for their vote, rather than sit in front of a teleprompter reading scripted lines,” he said.

Laura Schulte

Bon Iver performs in hometown Eau Claire

Grammy award-winning indie folk band Bon Iver performed a set of four songs for the Harris-Walz crowd.

The group, led by Eau Claire-born-and-based singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, has supported progressive causes over the years, including a 2018 show in Madison supporting Baldwin.

The performance is the latest from a musical powerhouse on the Harris campaign trail, following Megan Thee Stallion at her Atlanta rally. Vernon addressed the crowd before the band’s last song.

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“This is a pretty good showing for Wisconsin, I’d say,” Vernon said. “We all know what we’re here for, so we’re going to do our thing, make this music, and make way for the people we need to hear from.”

Bon Iver closed with its own interpretation of "The Battle Cry of Freedom,” the song written by George F. Root during the U.S. Civil War as a rally cry for Unionism and abolition:

“Yes we’ll rally round the flag, y’all, we’ll rally once again, shouting the battle cry of freedom. We will rally from the hillside, rally from the plain, shouting the battle cry of freedom. The Union forever! Hurrah, boys, hurrah! Down with the traitors and up with the stars. While we rally round the flag, y’all, rally once again, shouting the battle cry of freedom.”

Rachel Hale and Jessie Opoien

Tammy Baldwin targets opponent Eric Hovde's California ties: ‘There’s no Orange County, Wisconsin’

Baldwin, a Madison Democrat, slammed Republican challenger Eric Hovde as an out-of-touch Orange County banker as she spoke at the Harris-Walz rally.

“Eric Hovde owns a $3 billion California bank, a $7 million Ocean View home in Laguna Beach, and he's been named one of the influential residents of Orange County three years in a row,” she told the crowd to applause. “Folks, we have a Green County, Wisconsin. We have a Brown County, Wisconsin. There's no Orange County, Wisconsin. And you may laugh at that, but the stakes of this race are really high.”

It was an almost identical line to comments Baldwin made in the Milwaukee area two weeks ago during Harris’ first rally of her presidential campaign.

Mary Spicuzza

Tammy Baldwin maintains lead over Eric Hovde in new Marquette poll

Baldwin maintains a lead over Hovde, according to a new Marquette University Law School poll of Wisconsin voters released Wednesday.

Baldwin led Hovde among registered voters, 53% to 46%, and among likely voters, 52% to 47%. That represents a slight boost for Baldwin since the last Marquette poll conducted in June, which had Baldwin at 52% and Hovde at 47% among both registered and likely voters.

About 14% of registered voters were initially undecided between Baldwin and Hovde, which poll director Charles Franklin called a "fairly substantial" number.

"The Senate race really has been lost in the turmoil at the presidential level," Franklin said. "Once we get through the primary and get through the (Democratic National Convention), I think we'll see the Senate race fully engaged ... It will take hold soon, and people will tune in more."

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— Hope Karnopp

New Trump-Harris Marquette poll released before rally

Harris and Trump are in a statistical dead heat in Wisconsin, according to a Marquette University Law School poll that for the first time measures the updated head-to-head matchup.

Among registered voters, 50% supported Trump and 49% supported Harris. Among likely voters, 50% supported Harris and 49% supported Trump, according to the poll released Wednesday.

In the new poll, respondents who considered themselves "very enthusiastic" to vote still leaned toward Trump 52% to Harris' 47%. That narrows the numbers from June, when that group leaned 61% for Trump to 39% for Biden. Harris has a slight lead among "somewhat enthusiastic" voters.

"Now, we're seeing nearly equal levels of enthusiasm within Republicans and Democrats. Republicans have a small edge still, but it's a very small edge," Franklin said.

Nearly 80% of Wisconsin registered voters thought Biden made the right decision to withdraw from the race, including 91% of Democrats.

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Hope Karnopp

Minnesota voters drove across Wisconsin border for Harris-Walz rally

A number of voters drove across the border from Minnesota for a chance to see their governor on stage. Lutheran pastor Scott Richards of Gaylord, Minnesota, wore a rainbow-colored “Kamala” shirt.

“It’s just amazing to think somebody who has served us so well but really hasn’t been known on the national stage finally gets that chance in the spotlight," he said.

Richards said he would’ve come to the rally anyway, but finding out Walz was the VP pick was “icing on the cake.” He attended a St. Paul rally for Barack Obama the night Obama clinched the nomination in 2008 and said the energy Wednesday is similar.

“What is happening right now in the Democratic Party, it is the only time that I have felt the same way, the level of engagement, energy, enthusiasm, the spirit of it all," he said "It’s like a repeat of Obama in 2008.”

Rachel Hale

Harris rally line stretches for miles in Eau Claire

A line of cars stretched for miles past the Harris rally venue down Tenth Avenue, with an Uber from 10 minutes away costing more than $118. Many decided to get out of their cars and walk at least a half-hour to the rally.

Emily Wirth of Milwaukee said she waited more than 90 minutes in line and saw many cars turn around to leave.

“We got redirected a few times, it was definitely chaotic,” Wirth said, adding she was excited to hear from Harris and Walz regardless.

“Thinking about my extended family across the Midwest, I know that (Walz) is going to be able to engage additional voters who might have been on the fence.”

Rachel Hale

Vance event expected to be small, intimate, while Harris rally causes traffic backups

Vance will appear at Wollard International early this afternoon, a company that manufactures aircraft pushbacks, tow tractors, belt loaders, stairs and baggage tractors. Employees will be among the intimate number of people attending the event, which is being held on the manufacturing floor, among some of the items the company manufactures.

Meanwhile, the line to get into the Harris-Walz rally stretched on for miles outside of Eau Claire, with traffic nearly backed up to the highway. Thousands of people appeared to be standing in line waiting to get into the event after parking their cars, and police were turning yet more cars around, telling drivers to find somewhere else to park.

Laura Schulte

When and where is Kamala Harris' rally in Wisconsin on Wednesday?

Harris and Walz are expected to speak around 1:25 p.m. The location of their rally has not yet been made public.

Harris and Walz are making Wisconsin the second stop on their swing through battleground states, which began in Pennsylvania Tuesday night. They'll also visit Michigan Wednesday night, followed by North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.

Is Bon Iver playing at the Kamala Harris rally?

Bon Iver, an indie folk group, will also perform at the Harris rally. The band is led by Eau Claire born-and-based singer-songwriter Justin Vernon.

In 2020, Vernon led a get-out-the-vote effort in which he met with hesitant voters across the state, including in Eau Claire and Milwaukee.

Who else is speaking at the Harris rally on Wednesday?

According to the Harris campaign, other speakers will include Evers and Baldwin. Democratic Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski will also give remarks.

State Democrats have praised Walz as Harris' pick, highlighting his Midwestern roots and time as a teacher, similar to Evers' background.

When will JD Vance speak in Wisconsin?

Vance is scheduled to deliver remarks at 1 p.m. CT.

A release from the Trump campaign indicates Vance will focus on the Biden-Harris administration's handling of the economy, crime and immigration. Vance is visiting cities along Harris' battleground tour throughout the week.

Where will JD Vance speak in Wisconsin? What is Wollard International?

Vance is expected to speak at Wollard International, which manufactures on-the-ground aviation equipment, such as passenger stairs and baggage conveyors. Wollard International is northwest of downtown Eau Claire.

More: Wisconsin Republicans see JD Vance as VP pick who could help Trump cement Midwest vote

What do the latest Trump-Harris polls show in Wisconsin?

This is something we'll get a better idea of Wednesday. Around 12:15 p.m., the Marquette University Law School will release the results of their newest poll of Wisconsin voters, which asks for the first time about the matchup between Harris and former President Donald Trump.

The poll also asked what voters think about Harris and Trump's handling of issues and personal characteristics, how they feel about President Joe Biden exiting the race, how much attention they paid to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and their perceptions of the candidates, including Vance.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, JD Vance in Eau Claire Wednesday: recap

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