Embedded in the Harris/Walz Campaign

Probably a once in a lifetime for me.

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Nothing went as planned yesterday. And that ended up being even more interesting.

I had planned to interview vice presidential candidate Tim Walz in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. But weather delayed the arrival of his plane, and because of that, we needed to move the location of our interview from the airplane hangar where he and Kamala Harris arrived, to backstage at the Harris/Walz rally. 

And that meant I had to jump in the motorcade. (?!?!)  I couldn’t take my own car to the rally site, because all the roads to the venue had been closed as more than 12,000 people arrived to see Harris and Walz speak. Roads were at such a standstill that some people walked more than half a mile from where they had to park their cars. 

By the time the planes had landed and the roads were closed and cleared, the rally was now around two hours behind schedule. They needed to make up time somewhere, and our interview got pushed.

Still, I managed to squeeze in a couple of questions right before Tim Walz walked on stage to a very enthusiastic crowd. I listened to the rally from backstage. Walz spotted an attendee having a medical event and stopped to get them some help before continuing on. “You guys gotta drink water, it’s hot out here,” he said to the crowd.

By the time Beyonce’s “Freedom” was pumping and Harris walked on stage, I had already experienced more in the day than a government teacher from Northern Minnesota ever thought possible:

• Being on the tarmac when Air Force Two came in for a landing?

• Watching JD Vance’s MAGA plane arrive shortly behind, and seeing both planes parked near each other?

• Riding in a motorcade? Twice?

• Speaking to a VP candidate?

• Backstage during a political rally?

All fascinating glimpses into politics in America that were very different to experience up close than to read about.

Hope you enjoy this video, and let me know what questions you might have in the comments!