The eyes of the nation were once again on Wisconsin when the 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, hosted a huge rally on Aug. 7 in Eau Claire with her new running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The Republican vice presidential candidate, Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, came to town too.

“Show me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!” chanted rally goers.

The push for the key votes in key swing states in the 2024 presidential election has made its way to rural parts of western Wisconsin.

“Show me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!” the chant continued.

A crowd gathers at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris in Eau Claire on August 7, 2024. The campaign stop featured Harris, her new vice presidential running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and multiple Wisconsin elected officials, including Gov. Tony Evers and Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

For the second time in two weeks, Harris and Air Force Two were back in Wisconsin to fire up support in her run for the White House.

“So let’s make sure Tim Walz goes from Midwest nice to Midwest Vice,” said Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski.

In front of her biggest crowd ever in Wisconsin, an estimated 12,000 people packed the grounds of the Eau Claire Event District in a venue called High Country.

“I think we had most of western Wisconsin here — and half of Minnesota,” said Menominee resident Joe Hagaman.

“Then you have my good friend and our next door neighbor, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz,” said Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers.

Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz addresses the crowd at the rally for Vice President Kamala Harris in Eau Claire on August 7, 2024. “I don’t need you telling me about our healthcare. I don’t need you telling us who we love,” Walz said. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

Top Wisconsin Democrats paved the way, along with a mini concert from hometown Grammy-winning band Bon Iver.

“Hello, everybody. We love you!” said lead singer Justin Vernon.

Harris has come to Eau Claire to introduce her newly announced running mate to rural Wisconsinites, with hopes they and other Midwesterners like what vice presidential candidate Walz brings to the ticket as a former military man, teacher and high school football coach.

“I don’t need you telling me 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 going to read,” Walz said.

“The path to the white House runs right through this state, and with your help, we will win in November, we are going to win,” said Harris.

Vice President and Democratic nominee for president Kamala Harris addresses the crowd at her rally in Eau Claire on August 7, 2024. “The path to the White House runs right through this state, and with your help, we will win in November. We are going to win,” Harris said. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

Getting inside High Country to see this Democratic duo wasn’t easy. Some walked for miles and waited in traffic for hours to be part of the growing momentum of the Harris campaign.

What did attendees like about Walz as a candidate for vice president?

“He’s just one of us. He’s a good, old upper Midwest boy,” Hagaman said. “And, as they say, you can sit down at a coffee shop with Walz and feel right at home. He’s just like my next door neighbor.”

“Well, I think it will be really important because there’s still a lot of rural,” said Eau Claire resident Pam Weaver. “And maybe he can relate to that dynamic of the population that maybe Kamala wouldn’t. But I think that will really help open some people’s eyes.”

The outdoor rally wasn’t the only high-powered political campaign swinging through Eau Claire on Aug. 7. Across town, vice presidential Republican candidate J.D. Vance was holding a much smaller and more intimate campaign event to rally the troops.

Republican vice presidential candidate Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance addresses media at a campaign event in Eau Claire on August 7, 2024. “She’s running for the media, refusing to answer tough questions and hoping that a basement campaign is going to earn her a promotion,” Vance said. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

He was asked what he can do for Wisconsinites in the upper Midwest. Vance spoke directly to Wisconsinites in a 30-minute question-and-answer session specifically with Wisconsin-based reporters. He accused Harris of dodging the media.

“She’s running from the media, refusing to answer tough questions and hoping that a basement campaign is gonna earn her a promotion,” Vance said.

Vance said he wants people to know he’s stumping in the shadow of the Harris-Walz campaign to offer voters a contrast.

With three months to Election Day, it’s unlikely this will be the last time these two campaigns cross paths in Wisconsin, as they continue criss cross battleground states to woo voters in small, large and rural rallies.