Minnesota Governor Tim Walz was expected to deliver a strong performance in the vice-presidential debate against Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, especially with less than 35 days until the 2024 election. However, some Democrats were left concerned that Walz failed to capitalize on his opponent’s weaknesses and present a more forceful case for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Missed Opportunity for a Strong Debate Performance
Despite extensive debate preparation and weeks of sharp critiques of Donald Trump on the campaign trail, Walz appeared nervous and at times struggled to concisely articulate why Harris would be a better president than Trump. A swing-state Democratic strategist described the debate as a “missed opportunity,” particularly as Vance seemed to evade scrutiny for his past remarks and policies.
Walz’s performance, which some described as overly civil, surprised even his own supporters. DNC Chair Jaime Harrison said Walz was “extra Minnesota nice,” while others expressed frustration that Vance was not pressed harder on critical issues like his venture capitalist background and controversial statements.
Vance’s Appeal and Walz’s Stumbles
Polling immediately after the debate showed a 50-50 split on who won the debate, with both candidates seeing a bump in favorability. Vance, who had been polling poorly, managed to soften his MAGA image, particularly among women voters—a demographic Trump has struggled with against Harris. His focus on family policies appeared to resonate, while Walz’s muddled response to a past claim about being in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square protests raised concerns about his preparedness.
Despite these stumbles, Walz did succeed in challenging Vance over his stance on the 2020 election, forcing Vance to evade a direct answer on whether Joe Biden won. The Harris campaign quickly capitalized on this moment, cutting a new campaign ad highlighting Vance’s refusal to acknowledge Biden’s victory.
The Road Ahead for Walz
Following the debate, the Harris campaign is reportedly adjusting its strategy, with plans for Walz to engage more directly with voters and media in the final stretch of the race. Walz kicked off a bus tour through Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state, alongside Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.). The tour was initially supposed to include Harris, but she shifted her focus to Georgia to tour hurricane damage.
Walz attempted to clean up his debate performance during a campaign stop in Harrisburg, reiterating that Vance’s refusal to acknowledge Biden’s 2020 victory was “disqualifying.” However, as Democrats look to shore up support in key swing states, the pressure is on Walz to deliver a stronger message in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
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