New York – Face to face for the second time between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president trump Unlikely — and with the race to error five weeks away until Election Day in November — there’s a lot riding on the vice presidential debate.
While debates among running mates are a mainstay of White House races and have rarely been needed in the past, when the Republican vice presidential nominee Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democrats’ nominee, when they face off on Tuesday, the stakes will be high.
Any big knockout blow – or tragic misstep – can turn what is traditionally seen as a second-tier event into a dominant performance.
“Given that we are likely to get a head-to-head fight between the only major candidates and this is the last meeting between the two tickets right before the election, it increases the significance and importance of this debate,” the longtime Republican. Ryan Williams, a veteran of multiple presidential campaigns, strategist and communicator told Fox News.
The who, what, where and when of Tuesday’s JD Vance-Tim Walz vice presidential debate
Republican vice presidential nominee Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio (left) and Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (right). (Getty Images)
Most political pundits said this harris wishes good luck Trump in his first and possibly only debate last month. And flash polls of debate monitors agreed.
So Vance’s strong performance in Tuesday’s vice presidential debate could give Trump a boost.
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And there is an example from twelve years ago.
After then-President Barack Obama’s fall in the first debate against 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, then-Vice President Joe Biden’s stellar performance in the debate against Romney’s running mate Rep. Paul Ryan gave the Democrat ticket a Gave a big boost. ,
Leading up to the 2024 vice presidential debate, Vance, 40, has been very talkative, sitting down for multiple interviews and taking plenty of questions from reporters on the campaign trail.
Republican vice presidential nominee Senator J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, speaks during a campaign rally in Newtown, Pa., on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Lawrence Kesterson) (AP Photo/Lawrence Kesterson)
Walz, who is 60, has been largely reluctant to speak to the national news media.
The governor has been in the debate camp ahead of the showdown to prepare. Walz clashed with advisers and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg — who played Vance in the mock debate — in Harbor Springs, Michigan, near the northern tip of the state’s Lower Peninsula.
Walz’s wife, Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz, is also helping.
Asked on the eve of the showdown with Vance how his wife was helping him prepare for the debate, Walz told reporters, “She wins every one.”
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A source familiar with Vance’s debate preparation told Fox News Digital that over the past month, the senator participated in a series of murder board sessions with his team, where a group of people ask tough questions and hear someone in preparation. Clear discussions to help. An arduous examination or trial, or in Vance’s case, a vice presidential debate.
According to the source, Vance held a mock debate last week Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota, Walz is filling the role of House majority whip. Former Trump administration Treasury Department Assistant Secretary Monica Crowley served as one of the moderators for CBS News, hosting the debate in New York City.
halfway through fake debate, A severe storm knocked out power near Cincinnati, Ohio, where Vance lives and where the preparation session was held. But according to the source who first shared details with Fox News, Vance and the team continued to use lanterns for lighting and cellphones for timers.
Governor Tim Walz speaks to supporters at a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan on September 12, 2024. (Detroit Free Press/Adam Vander Kooy/via USA TODAY Network Images)
Emmer and Walz ran together for four years in the House before she won election as Minnesota governor in 2018. “I probably know him better or as well as most people on the Republican side,” he said.
And Emmer took aim at his fellow Minnesotan, arguing, “The hardest part of playing Walz… is trying to lie with a straight face, because that’s what he does. He’s good at the game of debate, but There is no point in this.” , it’s very windy.”
When former President Trump was asked on Monday if he had any advice for his running mate, he told reporters, “No, he doesn’t need it.”
But he also said that he and Vance were “talking back and forth a little bit” and that he thought the senator was “in good standing.”
Former President Trump (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris (right) face off in their first and likely only debate on September 10, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Reuters)
Part of the Trump campaign’s strategy ahead of the debate is to raise expectations for Walz.
The Trump campaign senior adviser said, “Walz is very good at debating. I want to repeat that. Tim Walz is very good at debating. Really good. He’s been a politician for almost 20 years. He was very good for last night. Will be well prepared.” Jason Miller told reporters Monday.
Walz comes into the debate with better polling numbers than Vance.
According to Fox News’ latest national poll, Walz was slightly above water with a 43% favorable rating and 40% unfavorable rating.
Vance stood in negative territory at 38%-50% favorable/unfavorable.
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The senator arrived in New York City on Monday afternoon, and took a break from debate preparations to address a gathering of GOP mega-donors in the evening.
Walz was scheduled to fly to New York City on Tuesday before the debate.
The vice presidential debate is being moderated by “CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell and “Face the Nation” host and chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan.
The 90-minute debate, which begins at 9 p.m. ET, will take place at the CBS News broadcast center in New York City.
Will air on Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox News Digital, Fox News Audio and Fox Nation Special debate programming.
Both Harris and Trump campaigns agreed to two four-minute commercial breaks during the debate. Campaign staffers are not allowed to interact with candidates during those breaks.
Other rules — including no studio audience — are the same as September’s Harris-Trump debate and the debate between Trump and President Biden in June.
But there is one big difference – the candidate’s microphone will not be muted while the opponent is speaking.
