Ohio Sen. JD Vance’s team is pleased with his performance in the recent GOP vice presidential debate. Vance aimed to present himself as composed and in control, contrasting with his more aggressive campaign persona. The strategy was to put Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on the defensive, a goal they believe was achieved according to sources close to Vance.
Vance's team believed that his willingness to engage with challenging questions from the media during his campaign trail was effective preparation for addressing potential attacks on his policies. The focus of the debate was to challenge Walz on his track record and challenge his perceived down-to-earth image.
Leading up to the debate, Vance and his team extensively analyzed Walz's past appearances to anticipate his tactics. They expected Walz to deflect difficult questions and shift the conversation to other topics. However, Vance managed to steer the discussion back to the key issues, a move seen as a significant win for the Ohio senator.