Ahead of the first and perhaps only national debate of the presidential election cycle, J.D. Vance prepared for the event via virtual Zoom from his home in Cincinnati. He recruited Republican Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota as his opponent in a mock session. And, according to people familiar with the debate, they have brought on Jason Miller, Donald Trump’s campaign strategist, and his wife, Usha, as collaborators.
But in his words, there’s no need to prepare.
“We don’t need to be as prepared because we have a well-developed view of public policy,” Vance said at the Teamsters press conference Wednesday morning, adding, “We’re more confident and… “Frankly, there is no need to prepare in the following cases.” There’s no need to hide what you said. ”
In many ways, his comments were the very reason Republicans, especially Trump, continue to support him. He is sympathetic, outspoken and enthusiastic about the media. And unlike Trump, he is known to be relentless on message and a nimble debater.
“It’s the first time a lot of Americans are seeing him and I think they’ll be very impressed, especially with him answering that type of question,” said Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a close friend of Vance. Ta. He is also running as Trump’s vice presidential candidate. “So throughout the years, throughout his time as a senator and as a public figure, he has continued to answer questions that would undoubtedly be asked in debates.”
Vance, who is only in his second campaign after successfully running for the Ohio Senate in 2022, is a Yale Law School graduate and author of Hillbilly Elegy. But he has already earned a reputation as a strong communicator and policy whisperer to the Trump campaign. As a torchbearer for the MAGA movement. In addition to regularly answering questions from the media about the campaign, he often appears on cable news networks and Sunday shows to defend Trump’s policies, sometimes in front of unfriendly questioners.
During his campaign, Mr. Vance answered questions from reporters, frequently holding press conferences during rallies to highlight Vice President Kamala Harris’ lack of media appearances. He said that it was the best preparation for the upcoming debate. He spent much of this week campaigning, holding rallies in North Carolina, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Asked Monday how he was preparing during a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, Vance said, “What me and Donald Trump will continue to do is go everywhere and talk to people. ” he said. “We’ve talked to hostile media, we’ve talked to friendly media, we’ve talked to national media, we’ve talked to local media, and the American people deserve leaders who try to get votes, not expect votes.” I am doing this because I think it will be given to them. ”
But Vance’s rise to the national political stage was far from smooth.
Since former President Donald Trump nominated him as his running mate in July, a video of the Ohio Republican complaining that the country is run by “childless cat ladies” has resurfaced and gone viral online. spread above. He was criticized for arguing that couples without children should pay more in taxes. He also came under fire from moderate Republicans after promoting a conspiracy that Haitian immigrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. (Vance later defended his “childless cat lady” comment as ironic.)
Vance continues to poll well among Republican voters, with 57% of registered Republicans viewing him favorably. Recent AP-NORC polls. But the poll also revealed some weaknesses, including that Democrats are more unfavorable of Mr. Vance than Republicans are of Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (80% vs. 61%). Independents also viewed Vance more negatively than Waltz, with 43% disliking Vance and 30% disliking Waltz.
Mr. Vance attacked Mr. Walz during the debate over his record as governor, particularly his response to the Minneapolis riots after the killing of George Floyd, according to a person familiar with debate strategy who was authorized to speak anonymously about the preparations. The plan is to do so. Mr. Vance seems to have done the same in his campaign after the Minnesota governor said in 2018 that he was carrying “weapons of war, in war” when explaining why he changed his position in favor of violence. He plans to blame Mr. Walz’s 24 years of military service. When he ran for governor, weapons were banned. The Harris campaign claimed Walz had made a gaffe.
The person also said that Mr. Vance will try to subvert Mr. Walz’s image as a moderate (he famously flipped the Minnesota seat) by portraying Mr. Walz as a liberal. and pointed to some of the socially progressive policies he signed as governor, such as legislation. The official said students of all gender identities can receive menstrual products.
It’s a similar strategy that Vance used in a 2022 debate with former Congressman Tim Ryan. In the last Senate debate, Mr. Vance effectively focused the spotlight on immigration policy and the economy. He linked Ryan to then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, painted Ryan as a “too liberal” lawmaker, and questioned Ryan about what he had accomplished in his 20 years in Congress.
“Tim Ryan says he believes in reasonable solutions,” Vance said during the last Senate debate. He turned to the congressman and said, “Well, Tim, what have you been doing about reasonable solutions in your 20 years in Washington, D.C.?”
And he made the same claim about Harris: “Kamala, your first day was 1,400 days ago, what the hell were you doing all this time?” he said Wednesday at a rally in Michigan. It’s a phrase she’s used throughout the campaign, particularly when talking about Harris’ first-day campaign promises. Harris-Waltz’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
“A lot of people know him. They know his story,” said Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), a close friend of Mr. Vance. “If they haven’t read the book, they’ve seen the movie. Maybe it’s the first time they’ve met him in person or spoken to him for the first time.”
Meridith McGraw contributed to this report.
