JD Vance Believes He Can Triumph Over Tim Walz Without Debate Preparation
He intends to challenge Walz during the debate by highlighting his record as governor.
TroibNews 
As JD Vance geared up for what is expected to be his first and likely only national debate of the presidential cycle, he prepared both at his Cincinnati home and through virtual sessions on Zoom. To simulate his opponent, he enlisted Republican Rep. Tom Emmer from Minnesota for mock debates. Additionally, he called on Jason Miller, Donald Trump’s campaign strategist, and his wife, Usha, for support, according to people familiar with the preparations.
Vance asserted that he wasn't particularly worried about preparing for the debate.
"We have well developed views on public policy so we don't have to prepare that much,” Vance stated during a press call with Teamsters on Wednesday morning. "We feel a lot more confident and frankly, you don't have to prepare if you don’t have to hide what you say.”
This confidence in his approach is one reason Republicans, including Trump, continue to back him. He is known for being straightforward, engaging with the media, and maintaining a sharp focus on his message, earning a reputation as a skilled debater.
“It will be the first time a lot of Americans see him, and I think they're going to be very impressed with him, especially answering questions in that format,” said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a close ally of Vance who had also competed to be Trump's running mate. “I mean, he's been answering the questions he's going to get asked at that debate now for years, certainly in his whole time in the Senate and as a public figure.”
Though this is only Vance's second campaign, following his successful Ohio Senate run in 2022, the Yale Law School graduate and author of *Hillbilly Elegy* has quickly built a reputation as an effective communicator and a key policy advisor for the Trump campaign, embodying the MAGA movement. He routinely appears on media outlets and Sunday shows to advocate for Trump’s policies, even in the face of tough questions.
On the campaign trail, he has emphasized that fielding questions from reporters has been crucial in preparing him for the upcoming debate in New York on October 1. This week, he has been active in rallies across North Carolina, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
“What me and Donald Trump are going to keep on doing is going everywhere and talking to everybody,” Vance remarked at a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, when asked about his preparation. “We talk to the hostile media, we talk to the friendly media, we talk to the national media, we talk to the local media and we do it because we think the American people deserve leaders who try to earn their vote instead of expecting it to be given to them.”
However, Vance's rise on the national stage hasn't been without challenges.
Following Trump's selection of Vance as his running mate in July, past remarks by the Ohio Republican resurfaced online, including criticism of the country being governed by “childless cat ladies.” He faced backlash for suggesting that couples without children should pay higher taxes and was reproached by GOP moderates for suggesting that Haitian migrants were responsible for pet disappearances in Springfield, Ohio.
Despite these controversies, Vance remains popular among GOP voters, with a recent AP-NORC poll showing that 57 percent of registered Republicans have a favorable view of him. However, the survey also highlighted vulnerabilities, revealing that Democrats hold a more negative view of Vance than Republicans do of Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, 80 percent to 61 percent. Independents also rated Vance more unfavorably than Walz, with 43 percent expressing disapproval of Vance compared to 30 percent for Walz.
During the debate, Vance is expected to challenge Walz’s record as governor, particularly focusing on his response to the Minneapolis riots following George Floyd's murder, according to a source familiar with the debate strategy who requested anonymity. Vance will also scrutinize Walz's military service after the Minnesota governor previously explained his change in stance regarding an assault weapons ban by referencing his service in 2018 and the “weapons of war” he had carried.
Additionally, Vance aims to paint Walz as a liberal rather than a moderate by pointing out some of his socially progressive policies, such as a bill mandating menstrual products for students of all gender identities.
Vance plans to employ a familiar strategy he showcased during his debates with former Rep. Tim Ryan in 2022, successfully highlighting immigration and economic issues. He had previously tied Ryan to Nancy Pelosi’s leadership, questioned Ryan’s legislative accomplishments over two decades in Congress, and painted him as “too liberal.”
“Tim Ryan says that he believes in reasonable solutions,” Vance remarked during their last Senate debate. Addressing Ryan directly, he asked, “Well Tim, what were you doing on those reasonable solutions in your 20 years in Washington DC?”
He has made similar critiques about Harris, asserting, “Kamala, day one was 1400 days ago, what the hell have you been doing the whole time?” This line has been a recurring theme in his campaign, especially regarding Harris’s early promises. The Harris-Walz campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
“A lot of people know him. They know his story,” said Rep. Jim Banks, a close ally of Vance. “If they didn't read the book, they watched the movie, and maybe they're going to see him in person for the first time or speaking for the first time.”
Meridith McGraw contributed to this report.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
Vance asserted that he wasn't particularly worried about preparing for the debate.
"We have well developed views on public policy so we don't have to prepare that much,” Vance stated during a press call with Teamsters on Wednesday morning. "We feel a lot more confident and frankly, you don't have to prepare if you don’t have to hide what you say.”
This confidence in his approach is one reason Republicans, including Trump, continue to back him. He is known for being straightforward, engaging with the media, and maintaining a sharp focus on his message, earning a reputation as a skilled debater.
“It will be the first time a lot of Americans see him, and I think they're going to be very impressed with him, especially answering questions in that format,” said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a close ally of Vance who had also competed to be Trump's running mate. “I mean, he's been answering the questions he's going to get asked at that debate now for years, certainly in his whole time in the Senate and as a public figure.”
Though this is only Vance's second campaign, following his successful Ohio Senate run in 2022, the Yale Law School graduate and author of *Hillbilly Elegy* has quickly built a reputation as an effective communicator and a key policy advisor for the Trump campaign, embodying the MAGA movement. He routinely appears on media outlets and Sunday shows to advocate for Trump’s policies, even in the face of tough questions.
On the campaign trail, he has emphasized that fielding questions from reporters has been crucial in preparing him for the upcoming debate in New York on October 1. This week, he has been active in rallies across North Carolina, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
“What me and Donald Trump are going to keep on doing is going everywhere and talking to everybody,” Vance remarked at a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, when asked about his preparation. “We talk to the hostile media, we talk to the friendly media, we talk to the national media, we talk to the local media and we do it because we think the American people deserve leaders who try to earn their vote instead of expecting it to be given to them.”
However, Vance's rise on the national stage hasn't been without challenges.
Following Trump's selection of Vance as his running mate in July, past remarks by the Ohio Republican resurfaced online, including criticism of the country being governed by “childless cat ladies.” He faced backlash for suggesting that couples without children should pay higher taxes and was reproached by GOP moderates for suggesting that Haitian migrants were responsible for pet disappearances in Springfield, Ohio.
Despite these controversies, Vance remains popular among GOP voters, with a recent AP-NORC poll showing that 57 percent of registered Republicans have a favorable view of him. However, the survey also highlighted vulnerabilities, revealing that Democrats hold a more negative view of Vance than Republicans do of Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, 80 percent to 61 percent. Independents also rated Vance more unfavorably than Walz, with 43 percent expressing disapproval of Vance compared to 30 percent for Walz.
During the debate, Vance is expected to challenge Walz’s record as governor, particularly focusing on his response to the Minneapolis riots following George Floyd's murder, according to a source familiar with the debate strategy who requested anonymity. Vance will also scrutinize Walz's military service after the Minnesota governor previously explained his change in stance regarding an assault weapons ban by referencing his service in 2018 and the “weapons of war” he had carried.
Additionally, Vance aims to paint Walz as a liberal rather than a moderate by pointing out some of his socially progressive policies, such as a bill mandating menstrual products for students of all gender identities.
Vance plans to employ a familiar strategy he showcased during his debates with former Rep. Tim Ryan in 2022, successfully highlighting immigration and economic issues. He had previously tied Ryan to Nancy Pelosi’s leadership, questioned Ryan’s legislative accomplishments over two decades in Congress, and painted him as “too liberal.”
“Tim Ryan says that he believes in reasonable solutions,” Vance remarked during their last Senate debate. Addressing Ryan directly, he asked, “Well Tim, what were you doing on those reasonable solutions in your 20 years in Washington DC?”
He has made similar critiques about Harris, asserting, “Kamala, day one was 1400 days ago, what the hell have you been doing the whole time?” This line has been a recurring theme in his campaign, especially regarding Harris’s early promises. The Harris-Walz campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
“A lot of people know him. They know his story,” said Rep. Jim Banks, a close ally of Vance. “If they didn't read the book, they watched the movie, and maybe they're going to see him in person for the first time or speaking for the first time.”
Meridith McGraw contributed to this report.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
