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The latest on the 2024 presidential campaign

By Antoinette Radford, Aditi Sangal, Elise Hammond and Tori B. Powell, CNN
Updated 8:45 PM EDT, Wed August 7, 2024

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1 hr 40 min ago
Walz said in 2005 he was ready to serve his nation in "DC or Iraq"

From CNN's Jeremy Herb and Haley Britzky

Gov. Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’ vice presidential running mate, refused to drop out of his congressional race in 2005 despite an Army National Guard announcement of a possible deployment, according to a statement from his campaign at the time.

Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, accused Walz of ducking service in Iraq when he left the guard and ran for Congress in 2005.

Walz served in the Army National Guard for 24 years before retiring in 2005. He launched a campaign for Congress in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District that year and was elected in November 2006.

Walz filed paperwork .. https://docquery.fec.gov/pdf/112/25038731112/25038731112.pdf .. with the Federal Election Commission as a candidate for Congress on February 10, 2005. The next month, after the guard announced a possible deployment to Iraq within two years, Walz’s campaign issued a statement saying he intended to stay in the race.

“I do not yet know if my artillery unit will be part of this mobilization and I am unable to comment further on specifics of the deployment,” Walz said in the March 2005 campaign release.
“As Command Sergeant Major I have a responsibility not only to ready my battalion for Iraq, but also to serve if called on. I am dedicated to serving my country to the best of my ability, whether that is in Washington DC or in Iraq,” he said. “I don’t want to speculate on what shape my campaign will take if I am deployed, but I have no plans to drop out of the race. I am fortunate to have a strong group of enthusiastic supporters and a very dedicated and intelligent wife. Both will be a major part of my campaign, whether I am in Minnesota or Iraq.”

Walz retired from the Army National Guard in May 2005, according to the Minnesota National Guard. Service members often submit their paperwork for retirement months before their retirement date. It’s unclear when Walz submitted his papers for retirement.

The Harris campaign did not immediately respond when asked about when Walz submitted his retirement paperwork.

2 hr 47 min ago
Harris briefly interrupted by protesters during Michigan rally

From CNN's Jeff Zeleny and Ali Main in Detroit and Sarah Boxer

Vice President Kamala Harris saw – and heard – at least a flavor of the challenges facing her candidacy in Michigan.

Her Wednesday evening remarks in Detroit were interrupted by a small group of about half a dozen protestors who persistently chanted what appeared to be a pro-Palestinian message.

“Because we believe in democracy, everyone’s voice matters, but I am speaking now,” she responded, repeating a refrain she has previously used at events in response to protesters.

She then tried to talk over the protests as the crowd chanted: “Kamala! Kamala!”

While railing against her rival’s agenda, Harris said, “if you want Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking.”

After a few minutes, the protesters were led out of the venue, where thousands had gathered to see Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

This is the latest reminder of the challenges facing Harris in Michigan. Her rally tonight is about 15 minutes from Dearborn, home to one of the largest Muslim and Arab-American communities in the country. Organizers of the uncommitted movement said at a press conference earlier in the day that there were no plans currently underway for a meeting with Harris while she’s in Michigan.

https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/kamala-harris-trump-election-08-07-24/index.html