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    • Tim Walz is campaigning in Arizona on Saturday: What to know
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    Tim Walz is campaigning in Arizona on Saturday: What to know

    Online Niel Posted on

    Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz claimed former President Donald Trump “hates this country” at a rally in Phoenix on Saturday, saying the former president’s recent comments comparing the country to a “trash bin” are unpatriotic.

    Less than two weeks before Election Day, Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, criticized Trump for saying during a visit to Arizona this week that America is “like a garbage can for the world” because of illegal immigration.

    “It is so pathetic and unpatriotic it is almost beyond belief. He is literally speaking in this country now,” Walz said at a rally at Trevor G. Browne High School. “Donald Trump hates this country and everything he does is for Donald Trump.”

    Trump and Harris are in the battleground state of Arizona, one of the few states on the Electoral College map that will determine the outcome of the presidential election. Polls give Trump a slight lead ahead of November 5. He lost the state by less than 11,000 votes in 2020.

    Walz made a drive through Arizona on Saturday to encourage voters to cast their ballots early. Voters are advised to cast their early ballots by mail by Tuesday to ensure they arrive by Election Day to be counted.

    The Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate spent the afternoon in Window Rock on the Navajo Nation before flying from nearby Gallup, New Mexico, to Phoenix for an evening rally. The gathering of several hundred supporters included comedian George Lopez and commentator Ana Navarro as special guests.

    Walz landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Saturday night and stepped off a campaign plane with U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, R-Ariz., whom Harris had considered as his vice presidential running mate.

    Walz waved, pointed at Kelly and said, “Look who we brought,” as he greeted a group gathered to meet him at the airport. Among those greeting were Kelly’s wife, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and Mesa Mayor John Giles, who co-chairs a group of Republicans and independents supporting Harris in Arizona.

    Walz used his rally speech to promote early voting and hammer Trump, particularly over the recent claim by Trump’s former White House chief of staff that Trump praised Adolf Hitler behind closed doors .

    “Donald doesn’t know his history very well. Be very clear, those were the sons of Minnesota and Arizona who were there to defeat the Nazis and Adolf Hitler,” Walz said.

    The speech was interrupted three times by protesters. The former interrupted Kelly’s speech. Walz’s remarks were interrupted on two separate occasions. A protester waved a Palestinian flag when Walz was on stage. The crowd booed and chanted the Harris campaign slogan “We’re not going back” as the protesters were escorted out of the gymnasium.

    Walz made a direct appeal to male voters, asking them to think about the women in their lives as they cast their ballots. The Harris campaign has lost ground among young Arizonans, polls show, and has made an effort to woo them through surrogates like billionaire businessman Mark Cuban.

    “These elections, their lives, those women you’re thinking about, their lives are literally at stake,” Walz said, noting the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court justices he appointed Trump.

    Walz addressed other issues, including rising prices, gun violence, Social Security and Medicare. He praised the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for voting against a Republican attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

    The crowd booed when Walz mentioned billionaire Elon Musk, who supports Trump and is spending millions to help him get elected.

    Walz said he feels bad for the people who bought Tesla vehicles.

    “Put a sticker on it that says you didn’t know it was so weird when you bought it,” Walz said.

    Before Walz took the stage, Lopez and Navarro spoke at the rally, as did Kelly and Giffords. A pep band wearing black and orange “TGB” T-shirts and orange baseball caps played music for the crowd.

    Lopez said he has known Harris for over a decade and that she is “the real deal.” He praised Walz, who was a high school teacher before entering politics, and slammed Trump.

    “My message is simple. We will put a teacher in the White House. We’re not going to put someone who thinks the sound of windmills causes cancer,” Lopez said before introducing the governor to the crowd.

    Navarro, a lifelong Republican who left the party during the Trump era, followed up on Trump’s “trash” comment and reminded the crowd that the former president had a contentious relationship with McCain before he died.

    “I will never forgive Donald Trump for speaking out against John McCain. John McCain was a hero. Donald Trump is a zero,” Navarro said.

    Arizona Campaign: Tim Walz seeks support from Navajo voters, promises Harris will work closely with tribes

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