(NewsNation) — As the race for the White House winds down, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris continue to pursue undecided voters in what is already a tightly contested election.
Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, are hoping to build a connection among outdoorsmen, fishermen and hunters in an attempt to sway men living in rural areas to support the Democratic ticket in next month’s election.
The Harris-Walz campaign announced the formation of Hunters and Anglers for Harris-Walz, a new national organizing program to engage and mobilize voters who enjoy hunting, fishing, and conservation, the campaign announced.
The program is also geared toward people living in rural areas and voters searching for gun violence prevention measures in key states across the country.
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The formation of the coalition comes as polls show Harris and Trump locked in a neck-and-neck battle in several key swing states across the country. As part of the launching of the group, Walz participated in the opening of pheasant hunting season in Minnesota in his official capacity as governor.
Creation of the coalition is intended to create a “permission structure for those who simply love to hunt, fish, and be outside, to join the Harris-Walz campaign,” said a campaign staffer who spoke on background.
Next week, the coalition will host a national organizing call to mobilize sportsmen and other outdoorsmen to cast ballots for the Harris-Walz ticket and will then participate in live events in key states as the election draws near.
“In rural America, hunting and fishing is more than just a hobby,” Matthew Hildreth, the Harris campaign’s National Rural Engagement director, told Outdoor Life. “For generations, it’s been our way of life that not only brings together friends, family, and neighbors; but also creates countless jobs in small towns and rural communities nationwide.
“While Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda would disinvest in critical conservation efforts to support wildlife and limit access to hunting and fishing, Vice President Harris cast the tie-breaking vote on the most consequential climate and conservation agenda in decades.”
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During Saturday’s hunting outing, Walz — an avid outdoorsman — commemorated the start of the pheasant hunting season by going out with a friend, who successfully shot and killed the first pheasant.
“Good shot,” Walz told his fellow hunter, according to a pool report from the event.
Walz told reporters that the successful shoot was the only pheasant that was killed during two hours of hunting on Saturday. The governor said that he is using a Beretta for the opening of the hunting season.
Later, while Walz was speaking with reporters, a rooster flew up in the air but did so behind the collection of reporters in a way that no one could fire a shot.
“Every vice president joke ever made was about to be made right there,” Walz said, referring to a hunting accident involving former Vice President Dick Cheney.
“And I was just like this,” Walz added as motioned to take his gun safety off.
