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Tim Walz attends the Michigan-Minnesota football game

Tim Walz attends the Michigan-Minnesota football game

Tim Walz’s dual role as Minnesota governor and Kamala Harris’ running mate was on full display Saturday when he attended a tailgate with Michigan football fans before heading to the field to meet with Minnesota’s coach. Walz visited Ann Arbor to watch the University of Michigan and University of Minnesota teams play in what is expected to be his last major campaign appearance before Tuesday’s vice presidential debate. Video above: Tim Walz speaks about the Georgia school shooting Earlier in the day, Walz was greeted at the airport by arriving University of Michigan students on a bus with a banner that read, “Put Me In, Coach!” Michigan won the game against Walz’s home school. Walz has leaned on his background as a football coach and teacher on the campaign trail as Democrats seek to stoke enthusiasm among young voters, with Walz visiting several college campuses recently. The visit comes before Tuesday’s debate between Walz and Donald Trump’s running mate, Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. After Saturday’s game, Walz will travel to Northern Michigan to prepare for the final debate before faceoff, according to a person familiar with his plans who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private preparations. Harris, meanwhile, held a fundraiser in San Francisco on Saturday. She told a crowd full of vocal supporters that “there is so much at stake in this election” while discussing state abortion bans and the U.S. Supreme Court decision that granted broad immunity to presidents. “I’m convinced,” she said. “The American people believe it is time to turn the tide.” She said the American people are ready for “optimistic leadership,” and that is why her supporters, including Republicans like Dick Cheney, “are supporting our campaign “Because they want an American president who will stand up for the entire American people.” Trump held a rally in Wisconsin on Saturday and also attended a college football game – the prime-time game between Georgia and Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The Harris campaign aired a new commercial during the game alerting Trump to the prospect of a second presidential debate, which Harris has said she would do. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has played the role of Vance in Walz’s debate preparation sessions, which have so far taken place at a hotel in downtown Minneapolis, according to another person who also spoke on condition of anonymity. Michigan is one of the key electoral states in November’s presidential election. While Harris has made several visits to other parts of the state since her campaign began in July, including a recent trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan’s second-largest city. “No one is winning this state right now,” Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan told reporters shortly before Walz’s arrival Saturday. “We are a purple state. Donald Trump didn’t win that state and Kamala Harris didn’t win that state.” Walz has continued to interact with young voters on the campaign trail, including a recent visit to Michigan State University. In 2022, Michigan saw the highest youth voter turnout in the nation as Democrats made historic gains in the state. For Harris, exciting similar voters could be crucial this year. Following the vice presidential debate, Walz and Harris will campaign together on a bus tour of central Pennsylvania. AP writers Will Weissert in San Francisco and Meg Kinnard in South Carolina contributed to this report.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. –

Tim Walz’s dual role as Minnesota governor and Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate was on full display Saturday when he attended a tailgate with Michigan football fans before heading to the field to meet with Minnesota’s coach.

Walz visited Ann Arbor to watch the University of Michigan University of Minnesota teams make what is expected to be his last major campaign appearance before Tuesday’s vice presidential debate.

Video above: Tim Walz speaks about the school shooting in Georgia

Earlier in the day, Walz was greeted at the airport by University of Michigan students who had arrived on a bus carrying a banner that read “Put Me In, Coach!” Michigan won the game against Walz’s home school. Walz has leaned on his background as a football coach and teacher on the campaign trail as Democrats seek to stoke enthusiasm among young voters, with Walz visiting several college campuses recently.

The visit comes ahead of Tuesday’s debate between Walz and Donald Trump’s running mate, Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio. After Saturday’s game, Walz will travel to Northern Michigan to prepare for the final debate before faceoff, according to a person familiar with his plans who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private preparations.

Harris, meanwhile, held a fundraiser in San Francisco on Saturday, telling a crowd of vocal supporters that “there is so much at stake in this election.” Immunity from Presidents.

“I’m convinced,” she said. “The American people are convinced that it is time to turn the tide.”

She said the American people are ready for “optimistic leadership” and that’s why her supporters, including Republicans like Dick Cheney, “are supporting our campaign because they want an American president who will work for the entire American people.”

Trump held a rally in Wisconsin on Saturday and also attended a college football game – the prime-time game between Georgia and Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

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The Harris campaign ran a new commercial during the game, alerting Trump to the prospect of a second presidential debate. Harris said she would; Trump has ruled it out.

According to another person who also spoke on condition of anonymity, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg played the role of Vance in Walz’s debate preparation sessions, which so far have taken place at a hotel in downtown Minneapolis.

Michigan is one of the key battlegrounds in November’s presidential election. While Harris has visited Detroit several times since her campaign began in July, Walz has focused his efforts elsewhere in the state, including a recent trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan’s second-largest city.

“No one is winning this state right now,” Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan told reporters shortly before Walz’s arrival Saturday. “We are a purple state. Donald Trump did not win this state and Kamala Harris did not win this state.”

Walz has continued to engage with young voters on the campaign trail, including during a recent visit to Michigan State University. In 2022, Michigan saw the highest youth voter turnout in the nation as Democrats made historic gains in the state. For Harris, exciting similar voters could be crucial this year.

Following the vice presidential debate, Walz and Harris will campaign together on a bus tour of central Pennsylvania.

AP writers Will Weissert in San Francisco and Meg Kinnard in South Carolina contributed to this report.