Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley expresses confidence in Senator JD Vance's preparedness for the upcoming vice presidential debate against Tim Walz.
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Michael Whatley exudes confidence in Senator JD Vance's readiness for the vice presidential debate tonight. Vance, the running mate of former President Trump on the GOP 2024 ticket, will face off against Democratic vice presidential nominee Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota in the one and only debate between the two candidates.
"You look at everything he's done since he was named as the candidate. He's been preparing, he's been talking with the press, he's been out there, he's been moving around, and talking to the American voters. So, he's very ready to have this conversation," Whatley emphasized in an interview with Fox News Digital hours ahead of the debate.
RNC Chair Expects Vance to Excel in Tonight's Vice Presidential Debate
Sources close to Vance's debate prep have revealed his participation in a series of rigorous sessions, known as murder board sessions, designed to simulate the tough questions and candid discussions he can expect during the debate. Additionally, Vance conducted a mock debate last week, with Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the House majority whip, playing the role of Walz. Former Trump administration Treasury Department assistant secretary Monica Crowley portrayed one of the moderators from CBS News, the host of the debate in New York City.
Unfazed by a power outage due to a storm during the mock debate, Vance and his team persevered, improvising with lanterns and cell phones. Vance has actively engaged with the media, granting numerous interviews and responding to questions from reporters on the campaign trail.
RNC Chair Expects Vance to Excel in Tonight's Vice Presidential Debate
In contrast, Walz has adopted a more reserved approach, limiting his interactions with national news outlets. He has also undergone intensive preparation, including mock debates with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg portraying Vance and guidance from Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz.
With a margin-of-error White House race, the stakes for the vice presidential debate are heightened. Longtime Republican strategist Ryan Williams notes the significance of this event, "Given that we're only likely to have one head-to-head match-up between the principal candidates and this is the last meet-up between the two tickets directly before the election, it heightens the importance and significance of this debate."
RNC Chair Expects Vance to Excel in Tonight's Vice Presidential Debate
Whatley believes Vance's mission is to communicate effectively to voters nationwide. He argues, "if you look at the Democrats, they don't just have messenger problems, they have message problems. The polices that they're pushing right now are not popular with the American people…. I think on every single one of these issues, the Republican ticket is the ticket of strength, the ticket of common sense, and I feel really great about where we're going into tonight."
According to the latest Fox News national poll, Walz holds a slightly positive favorability rating, while Vance remains in negative territory. Despite acknowledging Walz's debate skills, Trump dismissed his intelligence in a recent interview, stating, "Walz is very good in debates. I want to repeat that. Tim Walz is very good in debates. Really good. He's been a politician for nearly 20 years. He'll be very well-prepared for tomorrow night," But Trump seemed to contradict this assessment, saying in another interview, "Vance is going up against a moron. A total moron, how she picked him is unbelievable."
RNC Chair Expects Vance to Excel in Tonight's Vice Presidential Debate
The vice presidential debate will provide a crucial platform for Vance and Walz to present their respective visions and engage with voters. The outcome could potentially influence the trajectory of the 2024 presidential election.
