MESA, Ariz. — As the Presidential candidates took to the debate stage for the first time together in Philadelphia, a watch party was hosted by one of the vice presidential nominees.
Minnesota governor Tim Walz arrived in Phoenix Tuesday afternoon to rally voters ahead of the first debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
It was his first time campaigning on his own in Arizona. Once Walz landed he went to a few events in the Valley speaking with voters and volunteers. Governor Katie Hobbs, who Walz said is one of his best friends, joined him at one of the gatherings.
Then just before the debate, hundreds gathered at the Mesa Convention Center for a watch party with Walz in attendance.
"We're the underdogs in this race," Walz said.
The governor spoke for about ten minutes focusing on the key issues of the Harris-Walz campaign. Including the economy, gun regulations and what he calls fundamental freedoms.
"When we make choices, we want to make the personal choices ourselves," Walz said. "That's what freedom means. Who we marry, who we love, when we have a family, we'll make the choices
Then within just the first few minutes of his speech, yelling and screaming could be heard from the crowd. Two people were yelling "free Palestine". It went on about a minute before security swarmed the area and removed two protestors from the audience. One woman was seen resisting security as they escorted her from the building.
Walz ignored the screaming and continued on with the speech. Ending it with encouraging people to not let up with less than two months left in the election.
“When you get a chance for 56 days to change things, keep your foot on the gas," Walz said.
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