US vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz has shared his personal story – including an IVF struggle –— in his headline speech at the Democratic National Convention, where he formally accepted the party’s nomination.

The Minnesota governor and ex-school teacher and football coach appeared on stage late on Wednesday (local time) after a surprise appearance by Oprah Winfrey and another turn from former president Bill Clinton.

He sprinkled football references throughout his speech – the biggest of his political career so far – cutting through with folksy language that evoked his midwestern roots. There was also a warning to his political opponents: “Never underestimate a public schoolteacher”.

Walz pitched the November 5 election as a fight for “freedom” that included the government staying out of people’s choices on issues such as infertility.

“This is personal for [wife] Gwen and I,” he said.

“If you’ve never experienced the hell that is infertility, I guarantee you, you know somebody who has, and I can remember praying each night for a phone call, the pit in your stomach when the phone would ring and the absolute agony when we heard the treatments hadn’t worked.

“It took Gwen and I years, but we had access to fertility treatments and when our daughter was born, we named her Hope.

“I’m letting you in on how we started a family because this is a big part about what this election is about. Freedom,” he said.

“When Republicans use the word ‘freedom’, they mean the government should be free to invade your doctor’s office.

“Corporations free to pollute your air and water, and banks, free to take advantage of customers.

“But when we Democrats talk about freedom, we mean the freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people that you love.”

Hope, Gus, Gwen — You are my whole world.

I love you all so much. pic.twitter.com/efHu68vZ9Y

— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) August 22, 2024

Walz outlined what the future would look like under Democrat candidate Kamala Harris as president.

“If you’re a middle-class family or trying to get into the middle class, Kamala Harris is going to cut your taxes,” he said.

“If you’re getting squeezed by prescription drug prices, Kamala Harris is going to take on big pharma. If you’re hoping to buy a home, Kamala Harris is going to help make it more affordable.

“No matter who you are, Kamala Harris is going to stand up and fight for your freedom to live the life that you want to lead.

“Because that’s what we want for ourselves, and it’s what we want for our neighbours.”

The former football coach concluded his “pep talk” by urging Democrats to give their all in the final minutes of the game.

“Let me finish with this, team. It’s the fourth quarter. We’re down
We’re down a field goal. But we’re on offence and we’ve got the ball. We’re driving down the field.

“Boy, do we have the right team. Kamala Harris is tough. Kamala Harris is experienced. And Kamala Harris is ready.

“Our job for everyone watching, is to get in the trenches and do the blocking and tackling.”

Oprah takes aim

Earlier, TV talk show queen Oprah Winfrey whipped up a frenzy with a powerful speech pitched to the independent and undecided voters who could swing the election.

Former president Bill Clinton also returned to the stage to tear into Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Winfrey, who publicly endorsed Barack Obama when he ran for the presidency, energised delegates as she painted Harris and Walz as representing the “best of America”.

She didn’t directly name Trump or his running mate Senator JD Vance, but made unsubtle references to them.

“When a house is on fire, we don’t ask about the homeowner’s race or religion. We don’t wonder who their partner is or how they voted,” she said in a swipe at Vance’s controversial disparagement of “childless cat ladies”.

“No, we just try to do the best we can to save them. And if the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady, well, we try to get that cat out, too.”

Taking aim at Trump she said: “There are people who want you to see our country as a nation of us against them, people who want to scare you, who want to rule you, people who’d have you believe that books are dangerous and assault rifles are safe.

“That there’s a right way to worship and a wrong way to love. People who seek first to divide and then to conquer. But here’s the thing — when we stand together, it is impossible to conquer us.”

Winfrey also referenced Trump’s comment to an evangelical audience that they would only have to vote for him once more and then never have to vote again.

“You’re looking at a registered independent who is proud to vote again and again and again, because I’m a proud American and that’s what Americans do,” she said.

She called on “all you independents and all you undecideds”.

“You know this is true – that values and character matter most of all, in leadership and in life,” she said.

“More than anything you know that this is true, that decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024. And just plain common sense. Common sense tells you that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz can give us decency and respect; they’re the ones that can give it to us.”

Again referring to Trump without naming him, Winfrey said: “We’re not going back”.

“We won’t go back. We won’t be set back. Pushed back. Bullied back. Kicked back. We’re not going back.

“Let us choose – let use choose truth, let us choose honour and let us choose joy – because that’s the best of America. More than anything, let us choose freedom, because that’s the best of America.

“We’re not going back.”

Clinton rips Trump

Clinton also took aim at Trump, describing him as selfish, and praised Harris as focused on the needs of Americans.

He said the November election was “We the people” against “Me, myself and I”.

Clinton is 78, the same age as Trump. His delivery was sometimes halting but he delivered homespun lines about the election and urged Democrats to back Harris.

“What does her opponent do with his voice? He mostly talks about himself,” Clinton said. “The next time you hear him, don’t count the lies, count the I’s.”

Harris and Walz also received ringing endorsements on Tuesday from former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle at the Chicago convention.

“I love this guy,” Obama said of Walz.

“He knows who he is and what’s important. You can tell those flannel shirts he wears don’t come from some consultant. They come from his closet and they’ve been through some stuff.”

-with AAP