Premiers that share a border with Minnesota say Tim Walz understands America香蕉视频直播檚 important cultural and trade relationship with Canada, after the governor was chosen as U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris香蕉视频直播� running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket.

香蕉视频直播淚 was happy as punch,香蕉视频直播� Ontario Premier Doug Ford said of Walz香蕉视频直播檚 candidacy during a news conference in Mississauga Wednesday.

Walz made his debut with Harris at an energy-filled rally Tuesday evening in Philadelphia, kicking off their battleground state tour.

The premier香蕉视频直播檚 comments come just two months after the two met in Ford香蕉视频直播檚 office at the Ontario legislature. Ford said they discussed how to strengthen the economic ties between Ontario and Minnesota, including the agriculture and energy sectors.

Walz is known for his 香蕉视频直播淢innesota nice香蕉视频直播� demeanour and leaders north of the 49th parallel are hoping his track record working with Canada will continue if the Democrats end up back in the White House.

香蕉视频直播淲e shared a lot in common when we sat down,香蕉视频直播� Ford said.

Ontario and Minnesota do $7.6 billion in two-way trade, Ford said.

Ford said he and Walz 香蕉视频直播� who once coached high school football 香蕉视频直播� also tossed a ball around in his office before Ford gifted Walz a Canadian Football League football.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e going to work well together if we get to that point,香蕉视频直播� Ford said.

Walz香蕉视频直播檚 state shares a 885-kilometre border with Canada 香蕉视频直播� stretching across Ontario and Manitoba.

香蕉视频直播淚 think it would be good for Manitoba if somebody in the White House not only could point out our province on a map but also is a person who knows about our hydroelectricity, our (agriculture) industry,香蕉视频直播� said Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew Wednesday.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 what Gov. Walz could bring to the table.香蕉视频直播�

Kinew hasn香蕉视频直播檛 tossed a football with Walz, but said there are binding cultural and economic ties between Manitoba and Minnesota.

Manitobans go to Minnesota to watch sports, go shopping and take holidays. There are also significant business connections in manufacturing, agriculture and energy.

香蕉视频直播淎t the same time, we have a balancing act,香蕉视频直播� Kinew said.

Whichever party wins the election will be in power during a looming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement in 2026 香蕉视频直播� the first since former president Donald Trump pushed to renegotiate the old North American Free Trade Agreement.

U.S. President Joe Biden香蕉视频直播檚 tenure brought more stability for the Canada-U.S. relationship but still enforced policies experts have called protectionist. It香蕉视频直播檚 expected Harris, if elected, would follow Biden香蕉视频直播檚 example.

In preparation for the trade talks, the Manitoba NDP government has connected with members of both parties, including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who is rumoured to be a likely member of Trump香蕉视频直播檚 cabinet if he returns to the White House.

North Dakota also shares a long border with Manitoba and Burgum has important insight into the Canada-U.S. relationship, Kinew said.

香蕉视频直播淲hichever way the American public decides to vote we are going to be working really hard to identify those key allies who have a familiarity with Manitoba,香蕉视频直播� Kinew said.

The new Democratic ticket has been met with a flurry of excitement since Biden stepped back from the nomination amid concerns about his age to endorse Harris.

Walz told a crowd of thousands about the importance of 香蕉视频直播渃ommunity香蕉视频直播� at an outdoor rally he headlined with Harris Wednesday in Eau Claire, Wis.

The newly-formed Democratic team are decidedly taking a more positive tone, with Harris calling herself and Walz 香蕉视频直播渏oyful warriors香蕉视频直播� as they began the sprint to November香蕉视频直播檚 election.

香蕉视频直播淭his idea of caring for a neighbor, a kindness, a hand up when somebody needs it,香蕉视频直播� Walz told the crowd when a supporter seemed to receive help after struggling in the direct summer sun.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 who we are.香蕉视频直播�

Walz香蕉视频直播檚 opponent was on a similar path to make inroads in key states this week. Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance even ran up to Harris香蕉视频直播� plane on an airport tarmac in Wisconsin Wednesday.

香蕉视频直播淚 just wanted to check out my future plane,香蕉视频直播� Vance joked with reporters.

Vance also responded to the Democrats香蕉视频直播� recent labelling of their Republican opponents as 香蕉视频直播渨eird.香蕉视频直播� He told a crowd at his Eau Claire event that 香蕉视频直播渋f those people want to call me weird, I call it a badge of honor.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播� With files from The Associated Press

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press