Senator Vance’s Surprising Strategy for Upcoming VP Debate with Governor Walz

Senator JD Vance’s relaxed approach to debate preparation contrasts sharply with Governor Tim Walz’s intensive multiday debate camp.

At a Glance

Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Senator JD Vance of Ohio will stand behind lecterns for their debate next week.
The debate will be hosted by CBS News at its New York studios.
This is the first time since 2008 that vice-presidential candidates will not be sitting for a debate.
Nearly 70 million people watched the 2008 vice-presidential debate, the most-watched in history.

Vance Chooses Laid-Back Preparation

Senator JD Vance of Ohio approaches his vice-presidential debate preparation in a significantly different manner than his opponent, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota. Rather than participate in exhaustive, multiday debate camps, Vance organizes informal practice sessions at his home in Cincinnati. This laid-back method reflects his confidence and thorough understanding of the key policies he intends to defend.

The debate preparation includes mock debates set up with input from his family and advisers. Vance believes in focusing on core policy understanding, aiming to defend former President Donald Trump’s policies and criticize Vice President Kamala Harris’s performance effectively. Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota will play Governor Tim Walz in Vance’s final rehearsals, marking over a month of preparation for the debate in New York.

Former President Trump’s campaign, including key members of Vance’s team like senior adviser Jason Miller and Vance’s wife, Usha, have been involved in honing his debate strategy. The preparation has included in-person and virtual practice sessions, as well as “murder boards” to tackle tough questions. Vance’s team has studied old videos of Walz’s previous debates to familiarize Vance with his opponent’s debate style and policy positions.

Governor Walz’s Intensive Preparation

While Vance adopts a more relaxed preparation approach, Governor Tim Walz has engaged in a multiday debate camp to prepare for the vice-presidential debate. Walz’s mock debates involve detailed rehearsals with participants providing rigorous scenarios to challenge him comprehensively. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will play Senator JD Vance in Walz’s debate prep, aiming to provide a realistic simulation of the actual debate conditions. This intensive preparation marks a decisive difference in strategy compared to Vance’s informal sessions.

Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Senator JD Vance of Ohio will stand behind lecterns for their debate next week, according to four people briefed on the plans, the first time since 2008 that the vice-presidential candidates have been standing rather than sitting for a debate. The two candidates and CBS News, which is hosting the debate at its New York studios, are still in negotiations on all of the rules, but the network and the two campaigns have agreed that Mr. Walz and Mr. Vance will be standing, according to the four people, who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the preparations.

The rules are expected to be broadly similar to those for the presidential debate two weeks ago between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump. The last time presidential running mates stood for a debate was when Joseph R. Biden Jr., then a Delaware senator, and Sarah Palin, then the Alaska governor, met in St. Louis in 2008. Nearly 70 million people tuned in to that debate, the most-watched vice-presidential clash in history. Four years ago, 58 million people watched Ms. Harris debate Vice President Mike Pence.

The question of whether the candidates should stand or sit has been determined in recent presidential cycles by the Commission on Presidential Debates, which sought an aesthetic difference for the vice-presidential contests by having the candidates be seated. But this year, Mr. Biden’s campaign, which had long been frustrated with the commission, circumvented it by separately arranging debates with the Trump campaign and television networks. For most political candidates, it is not generally considered a matter of great consequence whether they sit or stand for a debate, barring physical limitations or a significant height disparity.

Walz’s campaign focuses on presenting Vice President Harris’s vision to the American people. This vice-presidential debate will offer significant visibility, considering that 58 million people watched the 2020 debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence. Understanding the importance of this event, Walz’s team has emphasized a meticulous preparation process to convey their message effectively.

When Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz meet for a vice presidential debate next week, they will seek to fill in the basic sketches the public has seen of them so far while making the case for presidential nominees Donald Trump and Kamala Harris https://t.co/7Q5wNAnMpb

— Reuters (@Reuters) September 25, 2024

A Battle of Styles and Substance

This vice-presidential debate represents a unique clash of styles and substance, with JD Vance and Tim Walz bringing contrasting preparation methods to the stage. For Vance, his relaxed and confident approach underscores his belief in the strength of his policy knowledge and communicative capabilities, aiming to challenge Walz’s moderate image decisively. On the other hand, Walz’s detailed and intensive preparation reflects a tactical approach, leveraging every tool available to present a compelling case to the American people.

The debate, moderated by CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan, will be an event that millions tune in to, highlighting the stakes for both candidates. As Vance and Walz gear up for this pivotal moment, their preparations reflect not only their strategies but also their visions for addressing America’s pressing challenges.