Not many were expecting Harris to run alongside Tim Walz. He’s an odd pick to say the least.
But what CNN just admitted about VP pick Tim Walz has blown Kamala Harris away.
U.S. historians have claimed over the past few decades that the pick for Vice President doesn’t really matter much when it comes to creating an electable ticket. They argue that the vast majority of people don’t even know who the Vice Presidential picks are, and are therefore not going to make a decision one way or another based on who that running mate pick is.
The 2024 election might be proving that idea wrong. Or at least it’s starting to change, because the running mates Tim Walz and J.D. Vance, for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump respectively, are garnering a lot more attention than any running mates have in decades.
The coming up debate this Tuesday between the two is actually of major interest to many independent voters who may not have felt like the two leading candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, answered their questions sufficiently to earn their vote.
CNN’s Scott Jennings recently shared on their State Of The Union show that he believes Tim Walz is way out of his league in this debate against J.D. Vance, and he even went so far as to say that Vance has the opportunity to expose him as a “buffoon” on Tuesday night.
In a recent discussion on CNN’s State of the Union, a lively debate unfolded regarding the vice-presidential picks for the upcoming election. The focus turned to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic pick for Kamala Harris’ running mate, and Republican Senator J.D. Vance, who is aligned with former President Donald Trump. The conversation highlighted the contrasting views on their significance to the respective tickets.
Former Harris Communications Director Ashley Etienne praised Walz as a “consequential” pick, asserting that he was selected to bridge the cultural divide among voters. According to Etienne, Walz’s presence on the ticket sends a message to moderate and independent Republicans, offering a reason to support the Democratic platform. “The reason why he was picked is to bridge the cultural divide,” Etienne noted. She also criticized Vance, arguing that instead of expanding Trump’s reach, he had caused more damage than good for the Republican ticket.
CNN’s Scott Jennings, however, took a much harsher stance on Walz, openly laughing at Etienne’s statements before responding. Jennings criticized Walz, calling him a “buffoon” and suggesting he has had minimal impact on the election. “He’s the only school teacher in America who brags that none of his students can get into an Ivy League school,” Jennings remarked.
He also expressed a hope that Vance could unsettle Walz during their upcoming debate, which is set to take place on Tuesday, hosted by CBS News. Jennings framed Walz as riding on Harris’ coattails, receiving little media scrutiny and being largely shielded from tough questions.
Since his selection, Walz has faced criticism, particularly over allegations related to his military service. Some veterans have accused him of abandoning his unit before their deployment to Iraq in 2005, a claim Walz has denied. Nevertheless, this issue continues to resurface, casting a shadow over his candidacy.
Meanwhile, Vance has also taken shots at Walz, specifically responding to the Minnesota governor’s comment about his students not attending Yale. Vance, who graduated from the Ivy League institution, defended his background and pushed back against what he saw as an unnecessary dig.
Razor-Thin Polls Suggest It’s Anyone’s Game To Win
Taking a look at the recent polling, it’s hard to suggest that either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris is “ahead” right now. The only thing you could point to in the way of trying to find out who is winning would be that Donald Trump is performing far better than he did in 2016 and in 2020.
Regardless, the swing states are still up for grabs for Harris and Trump. Pennsylvania, in particular, will be the most consequential state to win for the candidates looking for a term in the Oval Office.
This debate is yet another opportunity to connect with the independent and undecided voters who have indicated that they aren’t enthused with either of the major presidential tickets so far. So while it may have been true that in years past the debate between Vice Presidential running mates wasn’t particularly consequential, it definitely seems to be critical right now.
Taking a look at the debate contestants, J.D. Vance definitely seems to be the one with the upperhand. He’s long been described as an extremely sharp individual with the ability to not get stuck in the weeds. Expect him to put Walz on the backfoot immediatley.
How will Walz and company handle it? That remains to be seen. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see CBS give J.D. Vance the treatment that ABC gave to Donald Trump, though.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
