Wisconsin Democrats say they’re ‘hopeful’ at Harris-Walz rally in Eau Claire

Fletcher Myhre, a 19-year-old Eau Claire resident, was 3 years old when Barack Obama ran for president in a campaign based on “hope.” After attending the presidential campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in his hometown on Wednesday, Myhre said he was “hope-filled” and that the day was “inspiring.” 

Attending the rally with his sister, Leah, and a group of friends, Myhre said the last month of the presidential campaign — the first in which he’ll be able to cast a ballot — after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race has been a welcome change toward his vision for the country. 

“I was going to vote Biden, but it was more a vote against [former President Donald] Trump,” Myhre said. “Now I’m voting for Harris.” 

More than 12,000 people showed up to the rally at the High Country Eau Claire music venue, according to campaign staff. Before Harris and Walz arrived, fresh from a campaign appearance the night before in Philadelphia and officially securing the Democratic nomination for president and vice president, indie-folk band Bon Iver, fronted by Eau Claire-native Justin Vernon, played to the crowd. 

Donning a camouflage hat that says “Harris-Walz” in hunter blaze orange — a reference to similar “Midwest Princess” hats sold on the tour of pop artist Chappell Roan — the band played “The Battle Cry of Freedom,” a Civil War-era rallying song. 

Throughout the rally, in which Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, Gov. Tony Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin also spoke, the Democrats on stage frequently returned to the contrasting ideas of freedom — theirs versus the Republican ticket of Trump and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance. 

During her remarks, Harris outlined her vision for the country in which Americans have the “freedom to vote, to love who you love openly and with pride and the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government telling her what to do.” 

Harris said that on Day One of her administration she would work to bring down the increased prices that inflation has spiked across the country by going after price-gouging corporations, corporate landlords and big pharmaceutical companies, and by bringing manufacturing jobs back to the country. 

She also vowed as president to address gun violence, voting rights and reproductive health care. 

Just 80 miles from the Minnesota state capitol in St. Paul, Walz — who was announced as the nominee for Vice President earlier this week — touted his midwestern values, drawing out the “Eau” in Eau Claire in the characteristic accent of the region.  

To the crowd, which included a contingent of Minnesota residents, Walz said that Wisconsinites and Minnesotans alike don’t live by the same values as the Republicans. 

“It turns out that freedom to them means government should be free to invade your exam room,” he said. “But in Minnesota, just like in Wisconsin, we respect our neighbors and their personal choices they make. We make personal choices for ourselves because we know there’s a golden rule, mind your own damn business. I don’t need you telling us about our health care. I don’t need you telling us who we love, and I sure the hell don’t need you telling us what books we’re gonna read.” 

Under the Wisconsin August sun, a number of attendees struggled with the heat. At one point in his speech when a member of the crowd fell, Walz paused to make sure the person got medical attention and water before lauding midwesterners who care for their neighbors. 

In the crowd were Wisconsin Democrats in shirts evoking  previous remarks by Vance — who also made an appearance in Eau Claire on Wednesday — about “childless cat ladies,” high-visibility construction vests declaring support for the nominees, shirts displaying the logos of union locals, and declaring Milwaukee “not a horrible city” — a reference to comments Trump made to U.S. House Republicans. 

Jayme Shimooka and Katie Jonson made the drive up from Madison and Janesville the night before and crashed on a friend’s couch to attend the rally. The pair of UW-Eau Claire alums said they made the trip because they were excited to “be a part of it.”

Eau Claire pastor Josh Toufar, at the rally with the Myhre siblings, said it was refreshing to hear political candidates who spoke “without needing to remind us they’re talking about Christian values, compassion, sticking up for people.”

Rod and Deb Merritt, who recently moved to Baraboo from Texas, said they were happy about the country moving in a “positive direction.” Voting in a swing state after years in Austin, Deb said, “We’ve gone into the light, away from Darth Vader.” 

Rod unknowingly referenced a favorite catchphrase of Trump supporters. Harris and Walz are perfect for the moment, he said: “Democrats needed someone who tells it like it is.”