Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley expressed confidence in Sen. JD Vance of Ohio's readiness for the upcoming vice presidential debate against Democratic nominee Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota. Vance, the former President Trump's running mate on the GOP 2024 ticket, has been actively preparing for the debate, engaging with the press and voters to ensure he is well-prepared.
Leading up to the debate, Vance participated in rigorous debate preparation sessions, including mock debates with Rep. Tom Emmer playing the role of Walz. Despite a power outage during one of the prep sessions due to a storm, Vance and his team persevered using lanterns and cellphones to continue their preparations.
On the other hand, Walz, who has been less vocal in engaging with the national media, underwent debate camp with advisers and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg playing the role of Vance in mock debates. Walz's wife, Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz, also played a role in his debate preparation.
The upcoming vice presidential debate holds significant importance as it is the last direct meeting between the two tickets before the election. A strong performance by Vance could potentially boost Trump's campaign, similar to the impact of Joe Biden's performance in the 2012 running mate debate.
Whatley emphasized that Vance's focus in the debate will be on addressing key issues such as inflation, the southern border, and rising prices affecting Americans. The RNC chair highlighted the Republican ticket's strength and common-sense approach to these issues.
Both campaigns have been setting expectations for their candidates, with the Harris campaign portraying Walz as a relatable figure facing off against the Ivy League-educated Vance. However, Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller praised Walz's debate skills, acknowledging his experience in politics.
Despite differing poll numbers, with Walz holding a slightly higher favorability rating compared to Vance, the upcoming vice presidential debate is anticipated to be a crucial event in the lead-up to the election.
