VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was greeted by drenched but enthusiastic University of Michigan students Saturday when he arrived at Willow Run Airport near Ypsilanti for a day of campaigning for the Democratic campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris.
The students, some playing brass U-M band instruments, gathered on the tarmac in front of a school bus wrapped in a banner reading: "Put me in, coach." Many tried to cover themselves in plastic wrap as cold rain began shortly before Walz's arrival and continued after he left the plane. Walz moved along the line of students, laughing and posing for photos, but made no public reports at the airport.
Michigan is a key battleground state as polls show a close election both within Michigan and nationally.
Walz, a former congressman, has been governor of Minnesota since 2019. The military veteran and former high school teacher and assistant football coach attended Saturday's NCAA football game in Ann Arbor between the 12th-ranked U-M Wolverines and the Minnesota Golden Gophers .
Walz and his wife, Gwen, entered Michigan Stadium shortly before noon and he spent part of the game greeting and mingling with students and leaders from both universities, campaign officials said. Minnesota, the underdog, gave the Wolverines a late scare before losing 27-24.
Saturday's events were part of Walz's third visit to Michigan since Harris chose him as her running mate in August . Earlier, Harris and Walz campaigned together in the Detroit area Aug. 7 and 8, and Walz made a solo visit to Grand Rapids and Lansing Sept. 12 and 13.
Walz arrived in Michigan on Thursday and plans to spend several days in the Harbor Springs area , holding mock debates with U.S. Transportation Secretary and Michigan resident Pete Buttigieg, to help prepare for his Tuesday debate with Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican nominee for vice president, the Petoskey News-Review reported.
Among the students greeting Walz was Audrey Clayton, co-president of Students for Harris at U-M, where she is a senior.
"We're young people at a Midwestern college and Walz has Midwestern dad energy that I think we can all relate to," Clayton told the Free Press. "And he just brings an authenticity to the campaign that I think people really connect to."
Clayton said her group has knocked on close to 5,000 doors, talking to students about issues and registering to vote, and attendance has been strong at debate watch parties and a recent event with actress and activist Jane Fonda.
Reproductive rights and the health of the U.S. democracy are major issues, she said.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, was also at the airport to greet Walz, along with Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and other local officials. She warned that the economy is a major election issue for workers and for all age groups. Students "want to make sure they have a job when they graduate; they're worried about housing."
Democrats still have much work to do, and "we can not take one thing for granted, from now until Election Day," Dingell said.
In 2016, Dingell warned correctly that Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was losing Michigan to Trump and tried unsuccessfully to get more campaign resources directed to the state. Dingell did not answer directly when asked how her level of concern today compares with the same point in the campaign in 2016.
"Nobody is winning this state right now," Dingell said as she waited for the plane carrying Walz to land. (Republican nominee) Donald Trump hasn't won this state. Kamala Harris hasn't won this state."
She said she thinks the campaign is doing what it needs to do and "it's nice to be listened to."
Voters still need to get to know Harris, Dingell said. "She just needs to be real; she needs to be herself. They need to get out to the union halls, they need to be talking to the workers, and when people see what they're really fighting for and we do the contrast, that's how we win."
Victoria LaCivita, a spokeswoman for the Trump campaign in Michigan, said Saturday that neither the Minnesota football team nor the Minnesota governor will be winners in Michigan.
"The Wolverines are going to send Minnesota's Golden Gophers packing — the same way Michiganders are going to send Tim Walz back to Minnesota this November," she said.
This story will be updated throughout the day.
Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Walz arrives in Michigan as Rep. Dingell warns: 'Nobody is winning this state right now.'
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