The only scheduled debate between the vice presidential nominees on Tuesday night – five weeks before Election Day – may also serve as the final word for the campaigns of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump before a large audience on national television.
It’s an unusual twist of fate for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance, whose selections over the summer thrust them into an intense political spotlight.
Vance has less debate experience
Between Vance and Walz, the senator from Ohio has less debate experience but has had more time in the national spotlight. Coming on to the political scene after writing a bestseller in 2016, Vance won a crowded Senate primary in 2022 with the backing of Trump and held the seat after a contentious race against a stronger-than-expected Democratic challenge. Still, Vance’s debate experience is limited to two general election debates against Democratic former Rep. Tim Ryan and a set of forums and debates in the primary.
In both the primary and general election debates, Vance often stuck to policy areas he felt most comfortable with: immigration, the economy and drug control. On multiple occasions, the venture socialist strayed from the moderators’ question or topic and leaned into his favoured policy areas: immigration, public safety and the economy.
In assessing Vance’s debate performance, Ryan praised his sharpness but noted the Ohio Republican can be knocked off his game. Ryan mentioned, “He’s a smart guy, but he’s a very insecure guy and he’s got very, very thin skin.” Others who have participated in debates with Vance stressed he can be quick on his feet. “JD has the intellectual capability of actually assessing a question as it’s asked and coming up with an answer that, in my view, 99% of the time reflects the truth,” said Ohio Republican Michael Gibbons.
Walz has faced multiple debates
While Vance’s experience as a debater is limited compared with most nominees for vice president, Walz’s includes face-offs for multiple congressional and gubernatorial races. His debate opponents and those who helped prepare him say the Walz now on the national scene is similar to the man who participated in congressional debates and state farm forums.
During a 2018 gubernatorial debate, Republican Jeff Johnson tried to get under Walz’s skin by calling him “the greatest feel-good candidate I’ve ever seen.” Walz eagerly raised his hand. Later during that debate, while Walz was picking at Johnson’s position on taxes, the Republican said, “You don’t understand taxes very well”
Walz didn’t pause, continuing his attack line about Johnson on inflationary costs. Walz’s Republican general election opponents criticised his responses as often being light on details and heavy on folksy charm. “He had this image of being a moderate and he always said he was pro-Second Amendment.” Quist described how despite attacking Walz on the “many spending bills that he voted for,” it was nevertheless hard to land a knockout blow against him because of the brand Walz had built.
More exciting than Kaine vs. Pence
Democratic and Republican strategists, including those who have worked for Vance and Walz, pointed out that debates between vice presidential nominees rarely move the needle substantially. More often than not, the goal is to do no harm or mitigate any damage from a previous debate between the presidential nominees.
But allies and strategists connected to both Walz and Vance expect this one to be different. They argue that the two are relatively new to the national spotlight and that there has been outsized attention on their place on the Democratic and Republican tickets.
“I expect a pretty interesting debate,” the longtime Vance adviser said. “Fundamentally I don’t think people cast a vote based on who you pick as VP. But I think it will probably get more media attention than, say, a Tim Kaine versus Mike Pence who, let’s be honest, are two pretty boring guys.”
Vance’s limited debate exposure
In his second debate against Ryan, when asked whether he supported a 10-year-old rape victim being allowed to get an abortion, Vance reiterated his opposition to abortion, except in certain instances, and then pivoted to immigration, pointing to the alleged rapist being an undocumented immigrant, My basic view here is that we need to protect life in this country, and it is a very different view from where Tim Ryan stands.”
He then argued the incident would never have happened “if Tim Ryan had done his job on border security.” In debates with Ryan, Vance would sometimes pivot to the offensive on a topic rather than delving into details on his own position.
Quick on his feet
During their second debate, when asked about measures he would take to improve police accountability, Vance first said there was a “list of things” he would support before he quickly went after Ryan for what he said was the congressman’s “effort to strip the police of qualified immunity.
He argued that is why “we have violent crime on our streets right now, alluding to protests sparked by the death of George Floyd.” Everyone else kind of has a narrative that they have the same answer to every question,” said Ohio Republican Michael Gibbons, who ran in the 2022 Senate primary against Vance.
“JD has the intellectual capability of actually assessing a question as it’s asked and coming up with an answer that 99% of the time reflects the truth.”
Vance allies and Trump campaign officials
Vance allies and Trump campaign officials argue that the senator’s many TV appearances while on the 2024 campaign have helped hone his debate skills. According to those interviews and evidence from his past debates, Vance, a Yale Law School graduate, seems to enjoy getting into verbal volleys. “JD loves debating,” said a longtime adviser.
Opponents from previous debates contend Vance is sometimes vague on topics such as abortion, which he’s sought to explain his opposition to while allowing for nuance. At other moments, Vance has eagerly linked immigration policy to drugs and fighting the fentanyl epidemic in the United States.
In response to a question about illegal immigration during his first debate with Ryan, Vance first described his mother’s history battling addiction before tying that to illegal immigration. “My mum struggled with addiction for a big part of my early childhood,” Vance said.
In debates with Ryan, Vance would sometimes pivot to the offensive on a topic rather than delving into details on his own position.
Walz’s debate style
Walz has been known to talk fast in debates and, unlike Vance, has often used hand gestures or facial expressions while his opponent responded. As a congressman for six terms representing one of the most moderate and rural districts in Minnesota, Walz would regularly rebuff attacks about his support for Obamacare or being more liberal than his district by noting his work with Republicans. He even invoked his invitation to the late Sen. John McCain’s funeral during a debate to underscore his bipartisan credentials.
As governor, Walz has been no stranger to being pegged as a radical and fielding attacks on hot-button issues, such as his handling of riots in the aftermath of Floyd’s killing or his defence of Obamacare or Minnesota’s immigration laws.
In all of his congressional and all of his gubernatorial contests, he knows the policy backwards and forwards. He does not get knocked back down on his feet. He knows what he stands for, but he is not afraid to throw an elbow in a ‘Minnesota nice’ kind of way.
The debate presents a crucial moment for both candidates with the election closing in. It is anticipated to leave a significant mark on the final stretch of the campaign.
