On Tuesday night, Governor Tim Walz and Senator J.D. Vance will take the stage for the only vice presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle. This 90-minute showdown, hosted by CBS, is expected to be the last debate for both vice presidential and presidential candidates in the current race.
Taking place at CBS studios in New York City, the debate will feature some distinctive rules, according to The Washington Examiner. While microphones were muted in earlier debates between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, this time the candidates will have more control. Each candidate’s microphone will only be muted at their discretion, though the network retains the right to mute them if needed.
Another key rule is the absence of fact-checking by moderators. CBS has stated that it will not be fact-checking the candidates during the debate. Instead, the outlet will provide fact-checking on its website in real-time, allowing Walz and Vance to hold each other accountable during the debate. This is a departure from the approach taken by ABC News during its previous debate, which drew criticism for its obvious bias during the Trump-Harris contest hosted by ABC News.
Moderated by CBS’s Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan, the debate will follow a structured format, with strict timing for answers and rebuttals. Both candidates will stand at podiums without the presence of a live audience, and the debate will be broadcast across multiple networks, including CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox News, and CNN.
Walz is said to be feeling uneasy about the upcoming debate. According to reports, Walz has expressed self-doubt about his ability to match up against Vance, a seasoned attorney, describing him as a “trained lawyer-type,” noted New Conservative Post.
Adding to the pressure is the concern that a poor debate performance could further disappoint Vice President Kamala Harris. Insiders told CNN that Harris has expressed private frustrations with Walz’s continuous gaffes during the campaign, including an awkward moment where he mistakenly referred to her as a “prostitutor.”
The Minnesota governor has allegedly come under scrutiny from the vice president, and some think she may regret her pick. During a recent podcast appearance, Harris claimed that she was extremely sleep-deprived when she chose Walz as her running mate.
