Some 16,000 people stood in line for hours, 4,000 of whom were turned away late in the day due to concerns about heat-related illness. But those who made it inside erupted in applause as Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the presumptive presidential and vice presidential candidates for the Democratic Party, walked on stage at the Thomas and Mack Center on UNLV’s campus Saturday night.
Though Harris has visited Nevada six times already in 2024, none was as a presidential candidate. And Walz was just named her VP candidate a week ago. The two candidates' speeches covered a range of topics, from reproductive rights and eliminating taxes on tips, to how Trump would be "a dictator" if elected in November.
The crowd demonstrated what a lot of political observers have been saying: Democrats are reinvigorated without President Joe Biden as the candidate and with younger people at the top of the ticket.
Steve, a rally attendee, exemplified this excitement, especially about Walz.
"I spent a lot of time in Chicago," he said, "I think there’s a lot of Midwestern nice that would make this country a much better place. Let’s talk about joy and opportunity and success, as opposed to hate and divisiveness. So, Tim Walz is going to be great. Let’s go coach, I’m on his team!"
Another attendee, Rayna, echoed a similar sentiment about decency, but also emphasized how much she disliked the Trump campaign rhetoric against Harris in the last few weeks.
"It’s kind of great that she’ll be the first female president or woman president, and she got there by hard work," she said. "I’m just kind of taken aback and aghast by people saying she didn’t earn what she is by referring to her as a 'DEI candidate.' I don’t know who put it this way, but come November, she’ll be a duly-elected incumbent."
But, there's also dissent within the party. While the rally was happening inside the arena, a small group of around 25 protestors carried signs, beat drums, and chanted "Kamala Harris you can’t hide, you’re committing genocide" at passersby.
One of the protest's organizers, Sarah Leavitt with the Las Vegas Democratic Socialists of America, said they were not necessarily trying to discourage support for Harris, but instead wanted to bring awareness to the Palestinian cause.
"We have not endorsed one way or the other to say vote for Kamala Harris or don’t vote for Kamala Harris," said Leavitt. "It’s kinda up to each person, how they want to use their vote, but for a lot of us, genocide is a red line and Harris is part of the Biden administration that’s been supporting this and sending money to Israel. And so she’s culpable."
Harris is set to officially accept the Democratic Party’s nomination at the party convention on August 19.
Guests: Anne Davis, reporter, Nevada Public Radio, Paul Boger, reporter, Nevada Public Radio
