Exclusive: 1-on-1 with Tim Walz on election eve
WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Before addressing supporters for the last time in Wisconsin, Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz spoke exclusively to CBS 58 less than 24 hours before polls open.
"We're going to win Wisconsin," Walz said during an interview. "Folks here are midwestern and people care about their neighbors. They know when they hear us talk about strengthening Medicare and Social Security, those are things that matter."
Walz, the Minnesota governor, spoke about the historic campaign before rallying a crowd in West Allis on Monday night.
Walz was asked about the significant gender gap that could be a major deciding factor in the presidential race and his pitch to male voters in Wisconsin.
"I tell them to think about the women they love," Walz said. "Their lives are literally at stake in this in states that have abortion bans in place…and I will ask them to think about that when they go into the booth."
Former President Donald Trump has an edge with male voters in a series of polls, compared to most women favoring Vice President Kamala Harris.
Walz was highly critical of Trump and his amplified attacks on the campaign trail in recent days when asked about incidents such as calling former Rep. Liz Cheney a “war hawk” who should be fired upon and the violent rhetoric towards journalists.
"I would tell folks this isn't like choosing the Packers over the Vikings, this is about our future," Walz said. "Donald Trump is incredibly reckless. He's threatening people like the Cheneys, people closest to him like former national security advisors who all say he's the most dangerous man they've seen. This is not a good choice for America."
Despite his comments, a series of polls have consistently shown Wisconsin voters favor the former president on the economy and immigration.
Walz argued the disconnect is tied to Trump "putting out a lot of false information" about the economy, referencing a decline in manufacturing jobs and cutting taxes for wealthiest earners while in office.
"There is no economist that believes what Donald Trump is proposing will do anything for the middle class except raise costs and raise the national debt."
The West Allis stop was one of three Walz made on election eve. Earlier in the day he campaigned in La Crosse and Stevens Point.
Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance also campaigned in La Crosse Monday morning, setting up dueling campaign events on the day before the election.
During his remarks, Vance made a direct appeal to swing voters and the choice they face on Nov. 5.
"I think our message to the swing voters of the state of Wisconsin is very simple. It doesn't have to be like this," Vance said. "You don't have to agree with everything that I say, every policy proposal that we have. You don't have to agree with everything that Donald J. Trump says, but what we know is that when Donald Trump was president, you could afford to pay your bills."