Tin Walz went head to head with JD Vance in New York and admitted to once being a proud gun owner in youth when he’d have a shotgun waiting in the car
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he lived in a time when he could openly carry a shotgun to his car where it would lay until the end of football practice. The vice presidential hopeful emphasized the world has changed.
Walz is a former favorite of the National Rifle Association, which endorsed him heavily when he was in Congress. However, his views changed after Parkland shooting, which saw the deaths of 17 people. Walz underscored the importance of red-flag laws, extensive background checks and much harsher restrictions when it comes to guns so students feel safe.
The Minnesota Gov. shared a personal anecdote when his rival, Sen JD Vance of Ohio, called him out as a gun owner. Walz said he is from a different time when”I could Have a shotgun waiting for me in the car after football practice.”
Walz said he passionately supports stricter gun laws (
Getty Images)
The prime-time event was the last debate before the election and has given voters, especially undecided independents, a final glimpse into what the future of the US may behold. A vice presidential debate is nowhere near as intense as a head-to-head between the two presidential hopefuls, but it gives the two potential VPs a chance to dazzle the American people and garner support for their ticket.
The election is tight. The next US president could be decided by tens of thousands of votes in just a handful of states so, every ounce of positive publicity and political momentum is crucial. The debate was an interesting contest between two men with two very different styles and outlook of American life.
Walz definitely came into the debate with an edge. The Minnesota Gov. has always been one to sway individuals, like in 2006 when he successfully flipped a Republican-held congressional seat. He has passionately complemented Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign message of uniting the country instead of supporting divisive rhetoric.
Walz is leading Vance in favorability according to polls from FiveThirtyEight polls (
Getty Images)
Vance has seldom done well with public speaking. The junior Ohio senator, who has served in his position for just barely two years, has suffered gaffe after gaffe on the public stage since being picked as former president Donald Trump’s running mate.
Walz has also been a sort of refreshing presence on a ticket built on making change. For example, Republicans are known to fling harsh and silly critiques at their left-wing counterparts, Trump took it a step further giving most of his rivals a nickname. However, Walz seemingly broke typical Democrat tradition by firing back with his own tasteful zinger.
Walz “weird” comments toward Trump and Vance has offered a fresh line of attack (
Getty Images)
“These are weird people on the other side. They want to take books away. They want to be in your exam room,” Walz said in a TV interview in July. The message spread across social media thanks to young voters who immediately jumped on the bandwagon. Democrats even shone the saying on the Trump Tower in Chicago ahead of the Democratic National Convention.
To the dismay of the Trump-Vance ticket, the saying has offered the left a new angle of attack on their conservative counterparts who they’ve tried to cast as dangerous threat to democracy for the past eight years. The Minnesota Gov. doubled down on his insult during a rally in August with Harris, saying “[Republicans] are creepy and yes, just weird as hell.”
Experts said this is a new leaf for the entire party. Instead of trying to play on Americans’ fears of Project 2025 and an overall second Trump term, the candidates emphasize the radical policies laid out by their opponents to show just how abnormal they are. The simple label of “weird” or “odd” has seemed to do just that.
