'Coach Walz,' Oprah top DNC's third night

"It's the fourth quarter, we're down a field goal, but we're on the offense and we've got the ball" and the "right team."

(Image credit: Hannah Beier / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

By Peter Weber, The Week US

published 22 August 2024

What happened

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ceremonially accepted the Democratic vice-presidential nomination Wednesday night, capping the third day of the Democratic National Convention. "Coach Walz," as thousands of signs read, was preceded by Oprah Winfrey, whose political convention debut had been a closely held secret. Former President Bill Clinton was among the night's other speakers.

Winfrey has "often shied away from overt political activity," so it was quite a coup for Kamala Harris to get the "Oprah seal of approval" at her convention, The New York Times said. Americans may have "lost trust in many institutions," but her "celebrity has the ability to transcend politics." As a "registered independent," Winfrey said, "I'm calling on all you independents and all you undecided" to reject the other candidate's "ridiculous tweets and lies and foolery" and elect Harris.

"Above all, it was Tim Walz's time in the spotlight," Politico said. "Still introducing himself to much of the country," he talked about his time as a teacher, hunter, National Guardsman, congressman and governor, but "by the end of it, Walz was fully in coach mode."

"I haven't given a lot of speeches like this but I've given a lot of pep talks," Walz said. "It's the fourth quarter, we're down a field goal, but we're on the offense and we've got the ball" and the "right team."

Donald Trump, who has been trying to draw attention from the DNC with daily events this week, told a rally in North Carolina that while his advisers urge him to "please stick to policy" and "don't get personal," the Democrats are "getting personal all night long." He called Harris "stupid" and former President Barack Obama "nasty."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.