Why the Walz-Vance debate won't be a repeat of Harris vs. Trump

This is an adapted excerpt from the September 29th Episode of “Inside with Jen Psaki.”

On Tuesday evening, vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance will meet for their first and only scheduled debate before Election Day.

Normally there is only one vice-presidential debate, but what's unusual about this year's is that it will likely be one Last time Voters will see the contrast between the two tickets on a national debate stage. Because it appears that former President Donald Trump will not accept Vice President Kamala Harris' offer for another debate.

So for me, it's worth paying more attention than usual to this year's vice presidential debate. Here are a few things I'll be paying attention to on Tuesday night:

Let's start with the obvious: We know Vance is not Trump. He obviously doesn't have the same charisma as the former president. But he is committed to Trump's MAGA mission… whatever the cost. Vance has shown that, like Trump, he is willing to push any story that fits their narrative, regardless of the truth.

But even if he's still spouting the same Trump lies, he's unlikely to fall into the same traps as Trump in the debate. If history is anything to go by, Vance isn't a bad debater. In contrast to the former president, he is a little more disciplined and communicative.

Just believe the man who was on the other side at Vance's final debate of 2022, former Rep. Tim Ryan. The former congressman said the senator was “somewhat able to articulate some sort of intellectual underpinning to Donald Trump’s rants.”

“He is very smart. I don't think there is any doubt about that. I wouldn’t call him stupid in any way,” Ryan told The Columbus Dispatch.

So if you're expecting a repeat of Harris' confident performance from the last debate, I have bad news for you. While Trump rambles and moves from one topic to the next, Vance has the ability to stay focused and discuss policy. He has a deep and comprehensive understanding of how government works. And when you add that to his devotion to Trump and the ideas of the MAGA movement – things he once called “cultural heroin” – it's going to lead to a different kind of debate.

Vance may be less bombastic on stage than Trump, he may sound more thoughtful, he may be a little drier, a little more policy-oriented, but that doesn't mean he's less dangerous and less extreme than his boss.

So when you watch Tuesday's debate, don't just measure Vance on basic coherence and self-control. The bar is low given his vice president, and Vance will likely exceed that bar. Instead, listen carefully to what he says, it will tell you more than anything else.

Jen Psaki

Jen Psaki is the host of “Inside with Jen Psaki,” which airs Sundays at 12 p.m. ET and Mondays at 8 p.m. EST. She is the former White House press secretary for President Joe Biden.

Allison Detzel contributed.