U.S. vice presidential debate/ Tim Walz/ JD Vance/ Harris vs Trump/ 2024 election debate/ Newslooks/ NEW YORK/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Tim Walz, a Democrat, and JD Vance, a Republican, will meet in their only vice presidential debate ahead of the Nov. 5 election. The two candidates, representing opposing political ideologies, are expected to defend their respective running mates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, in a 90-minute televised debate. Both sides anticipate a lively exchange.
VP Debate Quick Looks
- Debate Participants: Democrat Tim Walz and Republican JD Vance.
- Debate Time: Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET (0100 GMT on Wednesday).
- Format: 90-minute televised debate at CBS Broadcast Center in New York.
- Expected Focus: Defense of Harris and Trump’s policies, attacks on personal controversies, and criticisms of handling national issues.
- Public Opinion: Walz is seen more favorably than Vance according to recent polls.
U.S. VP Debate: Walz and Vance Prepare for Showdown
Deep Look
Democrat Tim Walz and Republican JD Vance, two prominent U.S. politicians with widely different perspectives, are gearing up for the only vice presidential debate before the upcoming Nov. 5 election. Walz, a 60-year-old liberal governor from Minnesota, and Vance, a 40-year-old conservative senator from Ohio, are set to clash in a 90-minute televised debate hosted at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York.
Both Walz and Vance come from Midwestern roots, but their ideologies and approaches to politics couldn’t be more different. Walz, a former high school teacher and football coach, has taken on a progressive stance throughout his political career, frequently attacking his Republican opponents by labeling them as “weird.” Vance, a best-selling author and political firebrand, has built his platform on populist rhetoric, famously disparaging some Democrats as “childless cat ladies.”
The stakes are high for the debate, as this will be the only chance for both candidates to stand toe-to-toe and make a final appeal to voters before the election. Each candidate is expected to fiercely defend their running mates, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump. Harris and Trump are expected to watch the debate closely, with Trump planning to provide real-time commentary on social media.
Political analysts have noted that while vice presidential debates often make headlines, they rarely alter the overall trajectory of an election. The 2020 debate between then-Senator Kamala Harris and former Vice President Mike Pence is most remembered for a fly landing on Pence’s head, rather than a significant shift in voter sentiment. Presidential historian Thomas Alan Schwartz echoed this sentiment, saying, “I can’t think of any of them that seemed to have made a real difference in the election.”
However, with no more debates planned before election day, this showdown offers Walz and Vance a final platform to present their cases as early voting begins across the U.S. Both candidates will be looking to make a lasting impression, especially as the election remains extremely close. National polls show Harris with a slight edge, but the battleground states remain hotly contested.
Heated Exchange Expected
The debate is expected to be filled with sharp exchanges as each candidate takes aim at the other’s past comments and positions. Walz has a track record of cultivating a down-to-earth image, often referring to his background as a high school football coach. However, he is expected to go on the offensive, attacking Vance for his 2021 remarks in which he criticized Harris and other Democrats as “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives.” Walz may also bring up a fabricated story circulated by Vance, which falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio — a story that Trump has also repeated.
For his part, Vance will likely focus on Walz’s handling of the 2020 Minneapolis riots following the death of George Floyd, which sparked widespread unrest. Trump’s campaign has already suggested that Vance will press Walz to defend the Biden-Harris administration’s policies on the economy and immigration. Additionally, Vance is expected to question Walz’s military service record, a topic that has stirred controversy in recent years. Republicans have accused Walz of inflating his status in the Army National Guard, where he served for 24 years. Although Walz did reach the rank of command sergeant major, one of the highest non-commissioned officer positions, he did not officially retire with that title. Walz also once referred to “weapons of war, that I carried in war” during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, despite never being deployed to a war zone.
In contrast, Vance served as a Marine Corps military journalist and was deployed to Iraq, though he never saw combat.
Debate Preparations
Both candidates have spent considerable time preparing for the debate, with each bringing in high-profile political figures to help them. Walz has enlisted U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to play the role of Vance during mock debates. Buttigieg, himself a Midwesterner, has even worn a red tie to mimic Vance’s typical appearance. According to an adviser to Walz, the focus of the debate preparation has been on ensuring that Walz stays true to his authentic self rather than trying to adopt a more polished debating style.
Vance’s preparation has included the help of U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, who has stood in for Walz during mock debates. Emmer, who hails from Minnesota, has helped Vance sharpen his attacks on Walz’s policies and record as governor.
Public Perception
Polling ahead of the debate shows that Walz is viewed more favorably by voters than Vance. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted between Sept. 20-23 found that 44% of registered voters had a favorable view of Walz, compared with 43% who had an unfavorable view. In contrast, Vance was viewed unfavorably by 51% of respondents, with only 39% holding a favorable opinion.
As the debate approaches, the spotlight will be on both candidates to see whether they can sway voters in what is shaping up to be one of the most contentious U.S. elections in recent history.
