Tim Walz sat down with Jon Stewart on Monday evening, delivering his highly affable Midwestern-dad energy to the Daily Show stage.
The vice presidential nominee spoke on the importance of swing states, while also emphasizing the need to connect with undecided voters with less than two weeks until Election Day. “I still think there is that opportunity just to just to chat with them, tell them what we’re doing,” said Walz.
“The folks I’m talk to, they’re probably — they are Republicans, and they say it,” he continued. “A Republican introduces me in Omaha, he said, ‘I can’t stand with this guy anymore. That’s not the party of Reagan. This isn’t freedom.’ Whatever it may be, it’s a lot of those folks that are trying to find permission to get off the MAGA stuff and move over. So, they’re still listening. They’re finding a way.”
When asked what the biggest obstacle was for many Republicans voters who remain undecided, Walz replied many have “never crossed over that line,” and pointed to Liz and Dick Cheney as examples of longtime Republicans that showed “courage to cross over.” He said that the Cheneys “give permission to those folks who want to find a reason to do the right thing.”
The Minnesota governor also discussed connecting with Republicans over tax cuts for the middle class, home ownership, and expanding home care for Medicare, which he said is the one that “makes a difference, especially in rural areas.”
Walz said it was up to him and Vice President Kamala Harris to talk with voters and repair the disconnect between parties. “These are folks that want to find a reason to not vote for Donald Trump. We need to give them that,” Walz continued. “It is terrifying watching what they’re doing, but that’s all distraction, the Trump distraction. He is dangerous, it is serious.”
Earlier this month, Walz joined visited Jimmy Kimmel Live and began his interview by calling for the Israel-Hamas war to come to an end. “1200 folks dead, 46 Americans,” Walz said, acknowledging the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel. “The vice president and I talk about making sure that it never happens again, that Israel’s secure, and the hostages are brought home and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza ends. “
When speaking to Kimmel, the governor also looked back at his time as a teacher and the lesson he shared with his students. “Social studies teachers talk to you about this idea — that we could have different ideas, but we have unity, love the democracy, have an election, and then shake hands and admit the person who won, won,” he said.