LOADINGERROR LOADING

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz looked to the gridiron to push his vision for politics on Sunday as he and Vice President Kamala Harris dropped by a high school football team’s practice in western Pennsylvania on Sunday.

Harris’ running mate ― a former high school football coach in Minnesota ― told the squad at Aliquippa Junior/Senior High School that politics have been “pretty ugly” and “pretty negative,” adding that he fears young people will turn away from it rather than turning into it.

Advertisement

“Politics isn’t so much different than this,” declared Walz, who was a defensive coordinator when he helped lead the Mankato West varsity team from a reputation of losing to a state championship in the late 1990s.

He continued, “It’s about something bigger than themselves. It’s about setting a future goal and trying to reach it. It’s about doing it with dignity and hard work. It’s about doing it with humility and when you lose, you walk across the field, you shake hands with the other team and know they played hard, too. But we’re all in it together to try and make it better.”

Walz then described the fourth quarter of a football game at the high school where “somebody has to step up” before teammates realize that they trust each teammate to the side of them.

“Our country’s not that different,” Walz said as he addressed the team on their field.

“Our neighbors wanna be with ya, our neighbors wanna do what’s right and the more we figure out that we’re in this thing together and we have more in common than we have separated, we’re gonna do a heck of a lot better.”

Advertisement

Gov. Walz at Aliquippa High School Football Practice: Politics.. what I fear most is that young people turn away from it rather than turning into it. Politics isn’t so much different than this. It’s about something bigger than themselves. It’s about setting a future goal and… pic.twitter.com/4MMnNWgwG2

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 18, 2024

Social media users praised Walz for comparing politics and football, noting that such a speech shows him to be a “stunning speaker and communicator.”

Dude is a stunning speaker and communicator. Superb choice for VP. He's not bringing one particular state, in the traditional fashion, but a whole demographic who'll now feel reckoned with. Combined with Kamala's smarts and presidential vision, this is an amazing ticket. https://t.co/fWPSTIVpx8

— Michael Marshall Smith (@ememess) August 19, 2024

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost

Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.

This man is effortlessly linking Democratic party values to the emotional foundations of American football culture as part of a Presidential campaign.

If I had read it in a screenplay, I’d have told you that it’s a lovely feel good story, but such a politician doesn’t exist. https://t.co/MoJ751ducj

— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) August 19, 2024

This shit will play extremely well in western PA https://t.co/32TrmkcjVX

— Matthew Sitman ???????? (@MatthewSitman) August 19, 2024

Advertisement

God it’s refreshing to hear hope as a message https://t.co/0vsYsun5x6

— Nick (@NickZararis) August 19, 2024

This is absolutely unreal. He touches on almost every major theme, stuff we haven’t even gotten to. Defending politics as something positive is deeply, powerfully strategic. Tapping into old magic here. https://t.co/IHf2NDTbPN

— Migrants Have Intrinsic Divinity ???? (@DanAncona) August 19, 2024

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost

Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.

Related

2024 electionsFootballPennsylvaniaTim Walz

Harris And Walz Embark On Bus Tour In Pennsylvania Before DNC

Walz Touts Nebraska Roots Where There's A Battle Over One Electoral Vote

JD Vance Does About-Face On Debating Democratic Rival Tim Walz

(責任編輯：explore)