Stand-ins and nerves: Tim Walz, JD Vance gear up for big Veep debate

In what is expected to be a fierce and combative debate, US vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz will square off on Tuesday, aiming to win over voters in the battlegrounds of heartland states. With the 2024 election on a razor’s edge, both candidates hope their performance will sway crucial blue-collar voters and help propel their running mates to the White House.
Vance, 40, a Republican Senator from Ohio, is known for his provocative rhetoric, often stirring controversy with his misogynist attacks and amplifying misinformation about migrants.
His Democratic counterpart, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, 60, is a relative newcomer on the national stage, selected by Vice President Kamala Harris after his criticism of Republican nominee Donald Trump and his Veep pick Vance as “weird” went viral.
Tim Walz has been burning the midnight oil preparing for the debate with a team of seasoned advisers, some of whom also assisted Kamala Harris in her verbal sparring matches.
Walz’s focus is on introducing himself to a broader American audience, as his name recognition has been largely limited to Minnesota.
According to CNN, Walz has expressed nervousness about the debate and letting Harris down. “He knows he’s not the best debater, but he’s been working hard to stay focused and manage his nerves,” a staffer on his campaign team said.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is standing in for Vance during Walz’s mock debates, helping Walz prepare for the encounter. These mock debate sessions aim to help the “Minnesota nice” guy sharpen his responses and practice countering Vance’s aggressive debate style.
Walz is expected to go on the offensive, coming down hard on Vance for his controversial remarks about women and abortion, including his infamous jab at Harris, whom he mocked as a “childless cat lady.”
He is also likely to call out Vance for spreading debunked stories about Haitian migrants allegedly eating pets in Ohio.
JD Vance has been preparing for the debate for over a month, reported CBS News. His preparation includes “murder board” sessions with his wife, advisers, and senior Trump adviser Jason Miller.
Vance told reporters last week that his goal is to articulate the Trump-Vance administration’s vision for making “life better” for Americans. “We’re studying up on the issues that matter to the American people, and I’m looking forward to laying it all out on the debate stage,” he said.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a Minnesota Republican, has been standing in for Walz during mock debates to help familiarise Vance with the Democrat’s mannerisms and speech patterns.
Vance has focused on studying Walz’s debate style and policy record to craft an attack plan that targets his rival’s left-leaning policies, said CBS News citing sources.
He is also likely to take aim at Walz’s military service, accusing him of abandoning his National Guard unit before it deployed to Iraq. Additionally, Vance may attempt to stir controversy around Walz and his wife’s use of fertility treatments, though the specifics of these claims have been hotly disputed.
The debate, hosted by CBS News, is set to air live from New York at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday (0100 GMT Wednesday). Unlike other debates, CBS said that the candidates’ mics will remain on throughout, giving Vance and Walz the opportunity to interject, challenge and fact-check one another directly.
With Trump refusing to participate in a second debate with Harris, the 90-minute showdown between their running mates is anticipated to be one of the last major televised events before the election on November 5.