Tim Walz campaigns in La Vista

LA VISTA, Neb. (WOWT) - The Omaha-metro got its turn in the 2024 presidential campaign spotlight this weekend with a visit from Tim Walz on Saturday.

Walz, announced as Vice President Harris’ running mate earlier this month, swung through Nebraska’s “blue dot” on Saturday just ahead of the Democratic National Convention. The event, which was listed as “at capacity” on Thursday morning, started at 2 p.m. at The Astro theater.

Saturday’s campaign event also marked the return of Walz to his home state. Now the governor of Minnesota, he was born in West Point, raised in Valentine, and went to Chadron State College before heading to Alliance. There he followed in his father’s footsteps, working as a public school teacher and administrator. He also met his wife, Gwen, in Alliance, and they eventually left Nebraska to teach in her home state of Minnesota.

The Democratic presidential campaign has been making note of Walz’s Nebraska roots.

A 90-second campaign ad dropped by the “Harris For President” team earlier this month showed clips of Walz in the classroom. In a campaign ad, Walz says: “And I tried to teach my students what small town Nebraska taught me: respect, compromise, and service to country.”

During his visit to La Vista, he first spoke to the crowd inside the Astro Theater. He then greeted the spillover crowd that was outside, shaking hands, taking selfies, and giving hugs.

“I just think it’s so exciting to be here and to have him support this state,” said Craig Kukuk, who attended the rally. “Obviously, he has some investment in this state, having grown up here. I’m just really happy to cheer him on.”

Some of those who attended say Walz’s Nebraska roots bring something to the Harris campaign that his running mate—who hails from California—lacks.

“People are going to characterize California, San Francisco,” A.T. Miller said. “He brings this normality of, ‘This is about personal values, strong values, and supporting one another, supporting a community together.’ And now, I think she can’t be dismissed because she’s from the coast.”

“People who don’t want to see Trump in office again, they want to see a new person—or I think he’s the middle ground for people like that in Nebraska or the Midwest, in general.”

Not everyone on site was supportive though.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators were calling for Harris and Walz to commit an arms embargo on Israel for its ongoing operations in Gaza.

“A majority of Democrats, number one, support a ceasefire; and number two, support an arms embargo,” said Nebraskans for Palestine organizer Karima Absy.

“Our tax dollars are going to fund bombs and murder overseas. That money should be spent here in the U.S.”

Others protested the Biden-Harris administration’s stances on abortion and the border.

“Why would we believe that she can close the border and keep us safe if she hasn’t done it under Biden’s administration?” said Julie Fredrickson of Omaha Patriots United. “Why would we give them another chance? They’ve done a horrible job.”

One Walz supporter said he felt Harris has already separated herself from Biden.

“She called for a ceasefire early, in terms of supporting Palestinians,” Miller said. “I think that she has a very strong and analytical mind. She’s obviously intelligent, and she’s willing to talk to folks. I think that opens doors that were, for some people, felt closed in the past.”

Some at the rally said having Walz on the ticket is huge because they believe Nebraska will have a seat at the next presidential administration’s table.

6 News sought comment from the Nebraska and Douglas County GOP about the Walz campaign stop but received no response.

The Nebraska Democratic Party is also planning a watch party event for Walz in Alliance next week, the same day JD Vance, former President Trump’s running mate, will be in Omaha for a private fundraiser hosted by the Ricketts family.