The Minnesota State Fair is the largest in the nation in terms of daily attendance and it has a long history of politics. It’s where Teddy Roosevelt uttered the famous phrase "speak softly and carry a big stick." Politics has again taken center stage as Gov. Tim Walz took time off the campaign trail to attend and has been top of mind for fairgoers. Mary Lahammer of Twin Cities PBS reports.
Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.
John Yang:
The Minnesota state fair draws more daily visitors than any other state fair in the nation. Over the years, there's been a long tradition of politics being on display. It's where Teddy Roosevelt uttered the famous phrase, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."
This year, politics is back at center stage. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz took time off the vice presidential campaign to visit yesterday.
And as Twin Cities PBS reporter Mary Lahammer reports, he's been top of mind for fairgoers.
Mary Lahammer:
The buzz at the booth where Democrats gather is decidedly different this year.
Grady Peterson, Minnesota:
I got the Harris/Walz. It was the orange. I wanted the green, but you know what? I will just wait until I can get that one too.
Mary Lahammer:
Why is this your pick? Why do you like that?
Grady Peterson:
Why do I like it? It's kind of the anti-MAGA hat.
Mary Lahammer:
The Minnesota state fair always features politics, but seeing a local elevated to a national ticket has changed things for folks in the Democratic Farmer Labor Party, or DFL for short. It's the state affiliate of the national Democratic Party.
Justin Dekker, Minnesota:
We're super excited about the Walz/Harris ticket, and we have got to stop by and buy some stuff, show our support, and make sure the right people get elected.
Karen Dekker, Minnesota:
With Tim Walz, I mean, I'm sad because we will lose Tim Walz, but he is the kind of guy that you just want to endorse and be behind, because he is a father figure. He's a teacher.
Mary Lahammer:
Here at the DFL booth at the Minnesota State Fair, they sold more merchandise in the first few days than they have ever done before in an entire run of the fair.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN):
People are excited, and people are excited. Yes, Democrats are excited, but we — actually, I have been here a number of times. We have had Republicans, independents, people that don't want to go back.
Mary Lahammer:
Senator Klobuchar, who ran for president in the past, says it was surreal to stand backstage with Oprah, John Legend, and the Mankato football team before introducing Walz at the convention.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar:
In Minnesota, we love a dad in plaid.
(Cheering)
(Applause)
Mary Lahammer:
How many times have you been asked what does Tim Walz really like?
Sen. Amy Klobuchar:
A few times, but actually one of the funnier things about our modern politics is I think all these people across the country now think they know him personally. They think he's like their favorite uncle or something.
Mary Lahammer:
The Republican Party booth also has new Merchan poking fun at Vice President Harris, and the Never Walz booth has updated images for the V.P. run, mocking his military record and menstrual products in school bathrooms, along with spinning a wheel full of issues from Action for Liberty.
Man:
Stolen valor. Claims he went to battle. Never did.
Mary Lahammer:
One GOP state rep spends his time at the nonpartisan House booth.
You walk past the DFL booth, you get the buzz and the energy that's around having Governor Walz. How do Republicans kind of counter that energy around Walz and that ticket now?
State Rep. Danny Nadeau (R-MN):
I think that story is going to unfold. I believe that the governor hasn't really been held to account for a lot of the decisions that he's made. The governor is really good at communicating with people. I don't agree with a lot of the policies that have come out of that, and I don't think that he's really been all that honest with his belief system.
Mary Lahammer:
The Republican from a competitive district worked on the campaigns of Walz's last two challengers for governor and says he barely recognizes the kind of energy the vice presidential candidate has been mustering in front of enormous crowds on a national stage.
State Rep. Danny Nadeau:
I have seen him change his demeanor significantly over the last three to four weeks.
Mary Lahammer:
As a person who represents some rural areas, how do you feel about him and his outreach in rural Minnesota and the country?
State Rep. Danny Nadeau:
Yes, I think he's got a lot of work to do on being a little bit more authentic. Putting an orange vest on and putting a camo hat on and talking about it is one thing. But when the policies are hurting hunters, when the policies hurt fishermen…
Mary Lahammer:
Do Republicans have a lot of work to do, though, to successfully counter what has become a sensation and the means and his communication skills?
State Rep. Danny Nadeau:
Absolutely. I mean, Republicans, we need to talk more about what we believe in and what does it mean to be a Republican in Minnesota? President Trump is very popular in greater Minnesota, but President Trump is not all that popular in the metro. I mean, we have to find that space as well and that grace.
Mary Lahammer:
The Minnesota State Fair ends today, giving people one last night to pick up campaign merchandise as the campaign enters the final stretch.
For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Mary Lahammer in St. Paul, Minnesota.
