VP hopeful Tim Walz raises $1.2 million at Boston fundraiser

In his first New England appearance since joining Vice President Harris' bid for the White House, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz raised more than $1.2 million at a fundraiser at the Newbury Boston Hotel in Back Bay.

The Democratic vice presidential nominee spoke as part of a five-state campaign blitz. About 50 people gathered in a ballroom to support the Harris-Walz ticket, including Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Gov. Maura Healey, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and House Minority Whip Katherine Clark.

Walz told the upbeat crowd the race was going to be hard, but that the Harris campaign has fueled a wave of enthusiasm among voters that shouldn't be underestimated.

"This is our moment. The energy out there is real," he said.

Walz said the Democratic campaign is also attracting new voters.

“We're seeing a whole group of young people who've never been involved in the politics of joy, never been involved in the politics of what's possible," he said.

By contrast, Walz said, the Trump campaign is leading with fear. Walz spoke about the need for leadership on climate change and national protections for reproductive rights.

The Minnesota governor called former President Donald Trump "an absolute existential threat to democracy" and attacked the former president's track record on foreign diplomacy. The United States needs to collaborate broadly, Walz said, including working with China to tackle climate change.

Trump, at an Asheville, North Carolina, campaign event Wednesday took aim at inflation and blamed Harris and President Biden for higher consumer prices. A government report shows inflation fell to 2.9%, its lowest level in more than three years.

Walz criticized Trump's claim that he would lower energy prices by 70% by drilling for more oil. "That's nonsense," Walz said. "We're producing more oil than we ever have. That's not the issue. The issue is for us to be able to transition and transition smartly” to more sustainable types of energy.

In addition to talking about policy priorities, Walz brought his signature humor to the event. At one point, he called out an Alabama senator, saying, “I feel like one of my roles in this now is to be the anti-Tommy Tuberville, to show that football coaches are not the dumbest people.”

Massachusetts is a deep blue state where Democratic presidential nominees rarely face a serious challenge. Alan Solomont, a former ambassador to Spain who co-sponsored the fundraiser, said Wednesday, "Boston is sometimes referred to as an ATM for the Democratic Party, and we do raise a lot of money.”

Walz is headed to Rhode Island and New York next for fundraising events. An Oct. 1 date has been set for his debate with Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance.

Material from the Boston pool report is included in this story.