The vice presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz is scheduled for Tuesday. Historically, vice presidential debates have occasionally influenced campaigns significantly.
Ohio Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are set to participate in the debate tomorrow night. The relevance and impact of vice presidential debates are often questioned. NPR’s senior White House correspondent, Tamara Keith, examined notable moments from past debates.
While vice presidential debates are frequently overlooked, the 1988 debate remains memorable. Judy Woodruff of PBS introduced the candidates: Republican Senator Dan Quayle and Democratic Senator Lloyd Bentsen. During the debate, Bentsen’s retort to Quayle comparing himself to John F. Kennedy became legendary: “I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.” Despite this impactful moment, Bentsen and his running mate Michael Dukakis eventually lost the election.
The subsequent vice presidential debate included third-party candidate James Stockdale, who garnered attention with his opening question, “Who am I? Why am I here?” This debate also saw significant crosstalk between Quayle and future Vice President Al Gore.
In 2008, an iconic moment occurred when Alaska Governor Sarah Palin greeted then-Senator Joe Biden by asking, “Can I call you Joe?” This was a strategic move to avoid calling him “O’Biden,” a mistake she had made during debate preparations.
A prominent moment from the 2020 debate involved then-Senator Kamala Harris asserting her speaking time against Vice President Mike Pence. Another memorable aspect of that debate was a fly landing on Pence’s hair, which drew notable attention.
Joel Goldstein, an expert on the vice presidency, emphasized the significance of these debates in introducing candidates to the American public. He stated that voters need to feel confident that the vice presidential candidates are prepared to assume the presidency if necessary. This is particularly important if the presidential candidate is older.
Brett O’Donnell, an advisor for Republican debate preparations, noted that while vice presidential debates can shape the campaign narrative, they have rarely, if ever, decided an election’s outcome. He also pointed out the unusual scheduling of this debate, as it is the last one currently planned. President Trump and Kamala Harris had their first and only debate on September 10, with Harris requesting another and Trump declining thus far. The finality of this debate may depend on its outcomes and Trump’s willingness to allow his running mate to have the last word.
This story was reported by Tamara Keith for NPR News.
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