In a bold and somewhat surprising move, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, is taking center stage in the Harris-Walz campaign’s push to win over rural voters. As the race tightens ahead of Election Day, Walz is set to unveil a new plan focused on improving the lives of rural Americans, hoping to chip away at Donald Trump’s dominance in these areas. The plan, aimed at bolstering health care, economic opportunities, and even addressing agricultural needs, underscores the urgency Democrats feel in this battleground.
At the heart of the Harris-Walz strategy is a promise to recruit 10,000 new healthcare professionals in rural and tribal areas. This would be achieved through scholarships, loan forgiveness programs, and grants, all in an effort to address the severe shortages of medical care in these underserved regions. Alongside this, the plan calls for permanently extending telemedicine coverage under Medicare—a lifeline that was expanded during the pandemic but is set to expire at the end of 2024. With rural voters, particularly those in agricultural states, also facing economic pressures, the campaign has promised to restore the Affordable Connectivity Program to reduce internet bills, while supporting farmers with the right-to-repair legislation.
Tampon Tim just can’t figure out why male voters prefer President Trump and JD Vance over him and Kamala: “I refuse to admit that that’s real.”
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 14, 2024
This aggressive focus on rural America is a significant shift. Trump carried the rural vote by a nearly two-to-one margin in 2020, and flipping even a small portion of that bloc could swing tight races in key battlegrounds. Walz, with his small-town roots and folksy demeanor, is central to this strategy. His newest radio ad taps into his background as a high school football coach and lifelong rural resident, attempting to frame himself as the candidate who understands the struggles of small-town America.
But the optics haven’t always gone smoothly. During a recent hunting event in Minnesota, designed to showcase his connection to rural voters, Walz was mocked for his apparent difficulty with a Beretta shotgun. Social media lit up with detractors highlighting his struggles, with many labeling the event as a staged attempt to appeal to male voters. Despite boasting about his hunting skills, Walz didn’t bag any birds, which Trump allies were quick to seize upon, portraying him as out of touch with rural life.
Me 13 beers deep when the couple from across the bar sees me and really digs my vibe: pic.twitter.com/RNxzEh7vNg
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) October 15, 2024
While Walz’s team tried to play down the incident, it hasn’t gone unnoticed. The hunting gaffe, coupled with his past support for gun control measures, including “red flag” laws and expanded background checks, is complicating his pitch to a demographic that values Second Amendment rights. Walz’s attempts to court hunters and rural gun owners, even launching the “Hunters and Anglers for Harris-Walz” coalition, could be undermined by his legislative record and these awkward moments in the field.
Critics from Trump’s camp, including key advisers like Chris LaCivita and Tim Murtaugh, have been quick to label Walz’s hunting trip as staged, arguing it was a desperate attempt to win over voters who see through the pandering. They’ve painted him as just another politician trying to look relatable, but coming across as disingenuous.
Walz goes hunting pic.twitter.com/aKlaxWxvXC
— Silent Memejority (@memejority) October 13, 2024