WASHINGTON, D.C. – Next Tuesday, Vice Presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz will face off in the first and only VP debate. Our Washington DC Correspondents Brendan Scanland and Rachel Knapp will travel to New York City to cover the debate.
Political scientists said historically VP debates don’t sway the needle too much but in this election, this debate could really help or hurt the candidates. One gaff, one slip up, or one major moment, has the potential to change enough people’s minds to win over one state. VP debates are a good way for the candidates to introduce themselves to voters. They are not as familiar to everyone who is running for president, so this debate is a chance for them to tell people who they are and what they stand for. Here’s what political scientists said they’ll expect from the debate:
“Historically the VP serves as kind of the attack dogs for the campaigns,” said Casey Burgat, George Washington University Assistant Professor and Director of Legislative Affairs. “The ones that are really going to hammer the opposition for what the name at the top of the ticket stands for. We’ll see kind of very, very direct shots but not through the VP candidate on the other end at the other side of the stage but more at their running mate at the top of the ticket knowing that’s who everyone is seeing their political lenses through.”
The 90-minute debate will include no opening statements, but there will be a two-minute closing statement. Candidates will have two minutes to answer a question, the other candidate will have two minutes to respond. Each candidate will have one minute for rebuttals. There will be two four-minute breaks. Candidates will be given a pen, a pad of paper and a water bottle. CBS News, the network hosting the debate, said it reserves the right to mute the candidates’ microphones, but otherwise, they will be hot.
This is the only debate between the VP candidates. Both are going to try to convince voters that their ticket should be the ones to lead our country.
