Tim Walz visits a Ukrainian bakery, rallies volunteers in Wausau campaign stop

WAUSAU – Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz made the Harris-Walz campaign's first high-profile visit to central Wisconsin on Friday, launching a battleground state push in the final weeks of the presidential campaign.

Walz, the governor of Minnesota, met with Democratic volunteers in Wausau following stops in Grand Rapids and Lansing, Michigan. On Saturday, Walz plans to hold a rally at the University of Wisconsin-Superior in northwestern Wisconsin.

The stops are part of what the campaign says is a "more aggressive phase on the campaign trail" following Vice President Kamala Harris' debate performance against former President Donald Trump on Tuesday night. That strategy, the campaign said in a memo, involves "stumping across battleground states" as Harris seeks to build post-debate momentum.

Trump rallied in nearby Mosinee last week. The area is part of Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District that has voted heavily for Trump in the past two elections.

Walz meets with Ukrainian refugees in Wausau

Walz's first stop in Wausau was Just Right: Cakes, Coffee, Gifts , where Walz and his daughter, Hope, met with Anastasiia and Anton Chystiukhina, and their son, Mark. The family settled in Wausau in 2022 and opened the store in 2023.

The family fled Ukraine after Russia invaded the country.

During his stop, Walz acknowledged the struggle and told Anastasiaa and Anton "the Russian aggression can't stand."

During his visit, he bought two pieces of cake, one called "Black Sea" and the other "Heart of Ukraine."

When Walz asked his daughter if she wanted anything else.

"We can share," she said, to laughs from the owners.

At his next stop, Walz also addressed the ongoing conflict in the country and committed to supporting residents.

"The answer is simple: Ukraine must win the war," he said later at Whitewater Music Hall.

Volunteers urged to talk to family and neighbors about voting this fall

Walz along with Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez rallied volunteers and voters during his stop at Whitewater Music Hall in Wausau's downtown, urging them to have "difficult conversations" with family and friends to boost the Harris-Walz campaign in Wausau.

"You've got to have those difficult conversations. I live here. I've got some relatives and some neighbors that may not have voted for me, but I don't ask them, because I'd like to have them over for Thanksgiving," she said. "But these are the kind of conversations that we're going to need to have. They need to know what is on the line."

Walz said America can't be "that frog in that slowly rising water temperature."

"What we know is the way to put an end to that is to simply work our butts off, call our neighbors, get people to the ballot box, win this election and let him go complain for however long he wants," he said.

With only 53 days left until the election this fall, Walz said in places like Wausau a few votes can make the difference in whether Wisconsin elects Harris or Trump.

"A couple thousand votes in a county like this, the way our system is set up, is worth more than 20,000 votes in California," he said.

"Just imagine the first time you're going to get the opportunity to say, Madam President," he said to raucous applause.

Walz highlights Harris' debate performance

Walz said some people were surprised by Harris' performance during Tuesday's debate.

"Why were you surprised? She was the prosecutor, county attorney, attorney general of California, a United States senator and the Vice President of the United States," he said.

As for Trump:

"All the other Democratic leaders have no respect for him," he said of U.S. allies. "They know where he's at. He continues to brag about being friends with the dictators."

Trump campaign hits back at Walz

The Trump campaign painted Walz's tenure as Minnesota governor as far left.

"Tim Walz, the Radical Leftist Governor of Minnesota, is now attempting to bring his failed policies to Wisconsin, a move that should concern every Wisconsinite.," said Jacob Fischer, the Trump campaign's Wisconsin press secretary, who said Walz advanced a "socialist agenda" as governor.

"In stark contrast, President Donald J. Trump will fight to restore safety, security, and prosperity to every corner of the nation," Fischer said.

Polling shows Harris and ahead of Trump in Wisconsin

A Marquette University Law School poll released Wednesday showed Walz was the only candidate on either ticket with a net positive favorability rating. Walz is viewed favorably by 43% of registered voters in Wisconsin and unfavorably by 37%, the poll found. Ohio Republican Sen. JD Vance, Trump's running mate, is viewed favorably by 37% and unfavorably by 47%.

The poll showed Harris with a 4-point lead over Trump in Wisconsin, within the poll's margin of error.

The Harris campaign said Thursday it plans to launch "a suite of new TV and digital ads" in addition to the visits featuring clips from Tuesday's debate.

In Wisconsin, Harris and Democrats have out-dueled Trump and Republicans on the airwaves in Wisconsin's main media markets. Advertising data showed Democrats have spent more on ads so far this cycle and have more TV ad space reserved than Republicans in the weeks until Nov. 5.

Walz will face off with Vance in a vice presidential debate on Oct. 1.

Journal Sentinel reporter Jessie Opoien contributed.

Laura Schulte can be reached at and on X at .