Premiers that share a border with Minnesota say Tim Walz understands America含羞草研究社檚 important cultural and trade relationship with Canada, after the governor was chosen as U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris含羞草研究社� running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket.

含羞草研究社淚 was happy as punch,含羞草研究社� Ontario Premier Doug Ford said of Walz含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 comments come just two months after the two met in Ford含羞草研究社檚 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 含羞草研究社淢innesota nice含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淲e shared a lot in common when we sat down,含羞草研究社� Ford said.

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

Ford said he and Walz 含羞草研究社� who once coached high school football 含羞草研究社� also tossed a ball around in his office before Ford gifted Walz a Canadian Football League football.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e going to work well together if we get to that point,含羞草研究社� Ford said.

Walz含羞草研究社檚 state shares a 885-kilometre border with Canada 含羞草研究社� stretching across Ontario and Manitoba.

含羞草研究社淚 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,含羞草研究社� said Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew Wednesday.

含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 what Gov. Walz could bring to the table.含羞草研究社�

Kinew hasn含羞草研究社檛 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.

含羞草研究社淎t the same time, we have a balancing act,含羞草研究社� Kinew said.

Whichever party wins the election will be in power during a looming review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement in 2026 含羞草研究社� the first since former president Donald Trump pushed to renegotiate the old North American Free Trade Agreement.

U.S. President Joe Biden含羞草研究社檚 tenure brought more stability for the Canada-U.S. relationship but still enforced policies experts have called protectionist. It含羞草研究社檚 expected Harris, if elected, would follow Biden含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社淲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,含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社渃ommunity含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社渏oyful warriors含羞草研究社� as they began the sprint to November含羞草研究社檚 election.

含羞草研究社淭his idea of caring for a neighbor, a kindness, a hand up when somebody needs it,含羞草研究社� Walz told the crowd when a supporter seemed to receive help after struggling in the direct summer sun.

含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 who we are.含羞草研究社�

Walz含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社� plane on an airport tarmac in Wisconsin Wednesday.

含羞草研究社淚 just wanted to check out my future plane,含羞草研究社� Vance joked with reporters.

Vance also responded to the Democrats含羞草研究社� recent labelling of their Republican opponents as 含羞草研究社渨eird.含羞草研究社� He told a crowd at his Eau Claire event that 含羞草研究社渋f those people want to call me weird, I call it a badge of honor.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社� With files from The Associated Press

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press