V-P candidate Walz rallies supporters at Democratic convention

He says US should be a place where kids do not go hungry and housing is a human right

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CHICAGO - Vice-presidential hopeful Tim Walz led fellow Democrats in a political pep rally on the night of Aug 21, vowing that he and presidential candidate Kamala Harris would triumph over Republican Donald Trump in November's US election.

The Minnesota governor, who was little known in America 15 days ago, acknowledged he had never given such a big speech but said that as a former high school football coach, "I have given a lot of pep talks".

The crowd responded with chants of "Coach, Coach, Coach!" Mr Walz brought his plainspeaking style and small-town values to the national stage, joined by a litany of political luminaries and star entertainers, on the third night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago.

The 60-year-old accepted his party's nomination for the No. 2 job.

He said America should be a place where children do not go hungry, healthcare and housing are human rights, "and the government stays the hell out of your bedroom", referring to Republican assaults on abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

He spoke of preserving the freedoms that Democrats say are under attack from Trump, 78, who is making his third major-party run for the White House.

Mr Walz said a second Trump White House would serve nobody except the wealthy and most extreme.