US Vice Presidential Debate: How Tim Walz and JD Vance are preparing, what is their strategy

In what is expected to be a heated and combative debate, US vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz will go head-to-head on Tuesday in a bid to win over voters in the battleground states of the heartland. With the 2024 election on a knife-edge, both candidates hope their performance will win over key blue-collar voters and help catapult their running mate to the White House.

Vance, 40, a Republican senator from Ohio, is known for his provocative, often stirring rhetoric Controversy with his misogynistic attacks and the spread of misinformation about migrants.

His Democratic counterpart, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, 60, is a relative newcomer to the national stage and was picked by Vice President Kamala Harris after his criticism of Republican nominee Donald Trump and his veep pick Vance as “weird” went viral .

WALZ GOES ON THE OFFENSIVE

Tim Walz prepared the midnight debate with a team of experienced consultants, some of whom also supported Kamala Harris in her verbal sparring matches.

Walz is focused on introducing himself to a broader American audience Recognition was largely limited to Minnesota.

According to CNN, Walz expressed nervousness about the debate and disappointment with Harris. “He knows he’s not the best debater, but he’s worked hard to stay focused and keep his nerves under control,” said a campaign official.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg represents Vance during Walz’s mock debates and helps Walz prepare for the encounter. These simulated debate sessions aim to help the “nice Minnesota” guy sharpen his answers and practice countering Vance’s aggressive debate style.

Walz is expected to go on the offensive and harshly denounce Vance for his controversial comments about women and abortion, including his infamous dig at Harris, whom he derided as a “childless cat lady.”

He will also likely take Vance to task for spreading debunked stories about it Haitian migrants allegedly eat pets in Ohio.

VANCE optimizes the plan of attack

JD Vance has been preparing for the debate for over a month, CBS News reported. His preparation includes “homicide panel” meetings with his wife, aides and senior Trump adviser Jason Miller.

Vance told reporters last week that his goal was to articulate the Trump-Vance administration’s vision of making “life better” for Americans. “We are tackling the issues that matter to the American people, and I look forward to laying it all out on the debate stage,” he said.

House Majority Leader Tom Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota, represented Walz in mock debates to familiarize Vance with the Democrat’s mannerisms and speech patterns.

Vance has focused on studying Walz’s debate style and political record to devise a plan of attack targeting his rival’s left-leaning policies, CBS News said, citing sources.

He’s also likely taking aim at Walz’s military service, accusing him of abandoning his National Guard unit before it deployed to Iraq. Additionally, Vance may be trying to stir up controversy over Walz and his wife’s use of fertility treatments, although the details of those claims are hotly disputed.

The debate, moderated by CBS News, will be broadcast live from New York on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. (Wednesday 01:00 GMT). Unlike other debates, CBS said the candidates’ microphones would remain on at all times, giving Vance and Walz the opportunity to directly interject, challenge and fact-check each other.

With Trump refused to take part in a second debate Featuring Harris, the 90-minute showdown between her running mates is expected to be one of the last major television events before the Nov. 5 election.

With contributions from agencies