Philadelphia students were excited — and a little skeptical — when Harris and Walz visited Temple

For the second time this summer, the United States presidential election has moved to Temple University.

Last month, it was Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump. This time, it was Vice President Kamala Harris — who recently won the Democratic nomination — introducing her vice presidential running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, at the Liacouras Center on Tuesday.

Temple’s campus was packed with students and non-students heading to the rally. Despite police blockades and road closures, the streets were packed. Lines to get into the rally stretched for city blocks.

“It’s a lot better than when Trump came here,” said Allie, a graduate student at Temple.

About 12,000 people came to the Liacouras Center in Temple to watch Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz launch their 2024 presidential and vice presidential campaigns Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (Santiago Ortiz/Billy Penn)

The news of the day was certainly the selection of Walz as Harris’ running mate. Students generally knew little about him. Those who knew his background were generally favorable to his choice. Most seemed surprised that Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, was not chosen as vice president. Shapiro spoke at the evententhusiastically calling Welz “a dear friend.”

“I think Shapiro [would] “was the better choice,” said Jack Turner, a third-year student at Temple. “But I think the more we learn, and I heard about Walz this morning, the more good things will come out of him.”

Many Temple students were enthusiastic and hopeful about Harris’ chances of winning the election. Some were more cautious.

“I think the odds are about 50-50,” said Olivia, a third-year student at Temple.

NPR poll shows that Harris has built a tiny lead over Trump in national polls since entering the race following President Biden’s decision to step down as his party’s nominee last month. Two students attributed some of that enthusiasm for Harris to Generation Z, a generation that recently reached voting age.

The event was raucous and full of energyin the presence of approximately 12,000 people.

“I feel a lot more comfortable. I feel like we have a better chance of winning than we did when Biden was running. I feel like people are more optimistic,” added Sadia, a third-year student at Temple.

Rally schedule

Temple student Santiago Ortiz is also a Billy Penn intern. He attended the rally and shared this timeline and photos.

13:15 Arrival

Even though the rally was scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m., and Harris’s at 6 p.m., lines were already forming around Temple’s Liacouras Center block, with people having to wait at least 30 to 40 minutes in the August heat before they could get in.

14:00 Security and Entry

Security was very tight, with every item entering the building checked. This reporter had to remove the lens from his camera and prove to the agent that it was working by turning it on. Others had their wallets or cigarette packs opened and checked.

Upon entry, attendees were given LED bracelets, similar to those given at a concert, to wear throughout the rally. The bracelets changed colors to red, white, and blue — though they briefly lit up in rainbow colors after Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said, “Marry the one you love and be who you are.”

LED bracelets handed out to Kamala Harris and Tim Walz rally attendees at the Liacouras Center in Temple. (Santiago Ortiz/Billy Penn)

The Liacouras Center was decorated with American flags and digital signs were lit with the words “HARRIS WALZ.” Fans continued to stream in for the next 2-3 hours and eventually filled the venue.

16:22 Jaime Harrison

After hours of waiting, the rally’s first speaker emerged. Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison announced that Harris had won enough Democratic delegate votes last Friday to become the party’s presidential nominee.

16:35 Mayor Cherelle Parker

When the mayor of Philadelphia took the stage, the crowd responded with thunderous applause.

“We have a job to do, and we will make sure that Kamala Harris becomes the 47th president of the United States of America,” said Parker, who recently launched a historic mayoral campaign and just days after her office posted a video on social media endorsing Shapiro for vice president. which sparked international speculation about his chances of employment.

16:54 Senator John Fetterman

Last week, a US senator from Pennsylvania He reportedly criticized Shapiro as a potential vice presidential candidateDuring his brief speech, which lasted less than three minutes, Fetterman called Trump and Vance “a pair of really, really, really weird guys.”

From left to right: DNC Chairwoman Jaime Harrison, Mayor Cherelle Parker and Senator John Fetterman on stage in Temple during the Harris-Walz rally on August 6, 2024. (Santiago Ortiz/Billy Penn)

16:57 Senator Bob Casey

The state’s No. 2 senator made an unusual entrance and appearance. He ran to the podium, spoke briefly in support of Harris and Walz, and then spent the rest of his time speaking out against the Republican candidate for his Senate seat, Dave McCormick. Casey, who was born and still owns a home in Scranton, said McCormick’s $16 million Connecticut home is one reason McCormick is not a true Pennsylvanian.

17:25 Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro

The Pennsylvania governor received a standing ovation that lasted about two minutes. Despite being at the forefront of talks for the vice presidential nomination, he expressed powerful support for fellow governor Walz, calling him a “dear friend.” He did not comment on how he felt about not being selected for the vice presidential nomination.

Senator Bob Casey, left, jogs toward the podium and Gov. Josh Shapiro speak at Temple University’s Liacouras Center at the Harris-Walz 2024 campaign launch. (Santiago Ortiz/Billy Penn)

17:57 Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz

The crowd finally saw what they had come for: the first campaign appearance of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. They took the stage arm in arm and received the loudest applause of any speaker that day. Harris spent much of her speech lifting up her vice presidential candidate. She complimented Walz on his accomplishments as a teacher, veteran, football coach, congressman and current governor of Minnesota. She also nodded to Josh Shapiro, calling him a friend and reiterating how crucial he was to winning the battleground state:

“Josh Shapiro and I will win Pennsylvania.”

Harris also criticized Trump for his 34 felony convictions, saying she “knows Donald Trump’s type” from serving as district attorney and attorney general of California for 13 years.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz take the stage at Temple University’s Liacouras Center during their first campaign appearance together on Aug. 6, 2024. (Santiago Ortiz/Billy Penn)

After her speech, Walz came out to deliver his first campaign speech as a vice presidential candidate. Like Harris, he showed support for Governor Shapiro (and Bruce Springsteen).

“I know from personal experience that there is no one you would rather go to a Springsteen concert with in Jersey than [Josh Shapiro],” he said.

He also thanked his students who encouraged him to run for office in 2006, when he won election to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Minnesota’s 1st congressional district.

At the conclusion of Walz’s speech, Harris and Walz were joined by their wives and received another standing ovation.

18:50 Exit from the center of Liacouras

Within minutes of Walz’s speech, attendees spilled outside, where Broad Street was closed to traffic for several blocks around the arena, and pedestrians were not allowed to cross Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue until the candidates’ motorcade had left the area. This caused ponderous traffic jams on the sidewalk; it took a reporter about 25 minutes to get out.

19:37 Harris and Walz’s column leaves Temple University

Harris and Walz’s motorcade has departed from the Liacouras Center. Their next campaign stop is Wisconsin on Wednesday afternoon.

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