By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
In what sets up as the only meeting between them and possibly the last head-to-head meeting of the campaigns, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will meet in a vice-presidential debate at 7 p.m. Mountain (9 p.m. Eastern) today, Oct. 1.
CBS News is hosting the debate, with “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan and “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell moderating. Coverage begins at 6 p.m. Eastern.
Fox News will simulcast the debate, along with providing pre- and post-debate coverage on its full complement of news networks. The debate is also expected to be carried on Newsmax and potentially other conservative networks.
Vance and Walz will meet with essentially the same rules as the prior meeting between presidential nominees Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, except one. The debate will not include an audience, and is slated to last 90 minutes. The difference? Microphones will be on throughout, except at the discretion of moderators. The debate will not feature opening statements, but will include two-minute closing statements. Vance won the coin toss and will be the last to close.
Among the topics sure to arise in the debate will be Walz’s activity in China — a leading adversary of the United States — much of it largely debunked as being embellished claims by Walz. His campaign has downgraded his trips to China from 30 to 15, but Vance is likely to question who paid for the expensive trips with Walz living on a school teacher and military reservist’s salary. Another recent discovery, Walz was not in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, according to multiple sources, when he claimed to be.
Both men formerly served in the military — Vance as a marine and Walz in the Army reserves. The claim of Walz’s stolen valor is almost assuredly to be raised by Vance, and possibly his claim to have carried a “weapon of war” in battle. He also had claimed a military rank he allegedly did not earn.
Other topics likely to be debated are immigration under Border Czar Kamala Harris, inflation, and the stagnating economy, including fracking and the gas price. Trump’s visit to the areas must affected by Hurricane Helene versus Harris visiting FEMA headquarters will also likely be discussed. It’s the difference between visiting government workers and visiting victims.
Political historians generally hold that vice-presidential debates are of little consequence in deciding presidential races, and there’s little indication this one will be any different.