The stage is set for a showdown between two relatively new faces in American politics as Sen. JD Vance of Ohio and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz prepare to face off in the only scheduled vice-presidential debate before the November election. Both candidates have quickly risen to prominence on the national stage, with Vance being a first-time officeholder and Walz being largely unknown outside of Minnesota before joining the Democratic ticket as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate.
Vance, the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” was elected to office in 2022 and quickly caught the eye of former President Donald Trump, who selected him as his running mate less than two years later. On the other hand, Walz has had a long career in politics, but it wasn’t until he joined forces with Harris that he gained national attention.
The debate is scheduled to take place on Tuesday evening, starting at 9 p.m. ET and running for 90 minutes, ending at 10:30 p.m. ET. The event will be moderated by “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell and “Face the Nation” moderator Margaret Brennan at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.
In terms of rules, both campaigns have agreed to a 90-minute debate with two four-minute commercial breaks. Campaign staff are not allowed to interact with the candidates during the breaks, and there will be no audience present, similar to the previous presidential debates. The moderators will introduce the candidates in order of the incumbent party, with Walz speaking first. There will be no opening statements, and each candidate will have two minutes to answer a question and two minutes to respond, with one minute allowed for rebuttals.
Unlike the presidential debates, a candidate’s microphone will not be muted while their opponent is speaking, but CBS News reserves the right to turn off the microphones if necessary. Vance won a virtual coin toss to determine the order of closing statements, opting to go second. Each candidate will have two minutes for their closing remarks, and no topics or questions will be shared with the campaigns in advance.
The debate will be broadcast on CBS and simulcast on other broadcast and cable networks. It will also be streamed on all platforms where CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+ are available, including CBSNews.com and YouTube. Coverage on CBS News 24/7 will begin at 4 p.m. ET on the day of the debate.
The stakes are high for both Vance and Walz as they prepare to make their case to the American people in this crucial debate. With the election just weeks away, this is their opportunity to showcase their policies, leadership styles, and vision for the future of the country. The eyes of the nation will be on them as they take the stage in New York City, ready to make their mark on the political landscape.
