Attendees laughed, anticipating his punch line that he’d left his phone in the car.
Emhoff was with friends enjoying coffee after a spin class when, about 20 minutes later, one of them showed him his phone, which showed a letter from President Biden announcing his campaign was on hold. Emhoff, a lawyer, said he skipped over the end of the letter, thinking Biden was simply saying he would address the nation later this week after recovering from COVID-19.
But a friend urged Emhoff to read the above passage, which says Biden won’t seek reelection, and Emhoff and his Secret Service escort ran to their car, where Emhoff’s cell phone was ringing with people telling him to call Harris.
“You could literally see steam and flames and smoke,” Emhoff said of his cell phone, drawing more laughter. He called Harris. “She was,” he said, pausing as if at a loss for words, “where were you? I need you.”
Emhoff arrived in Wisconsin on Saturday for his first major campaign visit since Harris became the Democratic front-runner, delivering a short speech at the Hmong Wausau Festival, stopping for soft-serve ice cream before launching his canvass at the local party office in Stevens Point. Emhoff, the second gentleman, is no stranger to campaigning on behalf of his wife and then-Biden campaign officials, but last week’s switch in candidates has renewed attention on Emhoff as a potential first gentleman.
Emhoff, a former entertainment lawyer, is considered by many Harris supporters to be the ultimate “wife guy” and dad joke master. He has played a part in many of the Harris-related memes and fan posts that have dominated social media over the past week, including photos of him as a younger man and eagerly showing Harris his phone while Harris looks on skeptically. Some social media users even believe he is the real “kid” of the two, referring to a song from a Charli XCX album that was featured in many of the pro-Harris social media posts.
Speaking in Wisconsin, Emhoff cracked jokes (including suggesting he’s just “a lawyer from Los Angeles” who often finds himself in unpredictable situations given his role in the White House) and shared personal anecdotes, including meeting Harris on a blind date. But he also highlighted his global travels with the Biden administration, talking about his travels to Asia and Harris’ background as the daughter of Indian immigrants at a Hmong community event. Emhoff leaned on his legal background in explaining the role the election will play in shaping the future Supreme Court and the steps that could be taken to restrict access to contraception.
He spoke of “my wife, Kamala Harris, and her vision for the future,” listing popular Democratic policies and explaining their importance, while also drawing criticism from both former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, who have both launched attacks on Harris since she became the Democratic front-runner.
“You all know what a pathetic guy J.D. Vance is, what a weirdo he is,” Emhoff said at the campaign launch, where a newly printed Harris sign was displayed among now-vintage Biden signs and memorabilia from past Democratic campaigns. “Really, the more I get to know this guy, the more ridiculous he is.”
He also used his role to directly refute some of the Republican attacks against Harris, such as comments from three years ago by Vance in which he called Democrats, including Harris, “miserable, childless, catty-cat women.”
“For the last 10 years, she has not only been a wonderful partner to me, but also a loving parent to our two children, Cole and Ella. From day one, she has been there for them, nurturing and fiercely protective,” she said, referring to Harris’ two stepchildren from Emhoff’s previous marriage.
He ended his speech with a direct message to President Trump, which drew thunderous applause.
“Mr. Trump, I know her name is very difficult to pronounce,” Emhoff said, leaning forward with his hands on his hips and waving them in the air, “and I have good news for you: after the election is over, you can call her Madam President.”
Voters who saw Emhoff speak in Wisconsin praised him and his humor and said they would like to see more of him on the campaign trail.
“I think he’s wonderful. It’s something that’s never happened in the history of our country for a woman to stand up in front of her husband and run for something like this. Usually, women stand back and smile,” said Nancy Foss, 74, a retired librarian who attended the campaign launch.
“I think this is a great thing and the time is now,” she added.
