Just three weeks after Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump went head-to-head at the presidential debate, their running mates Tim Walz and J.D. Vance are getting a rare moment in the spotlight.
Minnesota Gov. Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, is debating Ohio Sen. Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, in New York City on Tuesday, Oct. 1. This is set to be their only matchup before the Nov. 5 election.
The two politicians joined their parties’ tickets in the midst of what was already a turbulent election, with Vance, 40, being chosen as Trump’s vice presidential pick on July 15, just days after the former president was wounded in an assassination attempt.
Walz, 60, was brought onto the ballot as Harris’ last-minute running mate pick on Aug. 6 after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed his vice president.
Walz and Vance have been tasked with appealing to working-class voters in the “Blue Wall” states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin during the 2024 election. Several other states — including North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada — will also help determine which party heads to the White House in January.
Here’s what to know about CBS News’ vice presidential debate between Walz and Vance on Oct. 1.
How to Watch Live and Where to Stream
Hosted by CBS News, the debate will take place from 9 to 10:30 p.m. ET and can be viewed in full on the CBS News television network. It will also be available for streaming on CBS News 24/7 and Paramount+.
Additionally, the debate will be simulcast on most other networks and streaming platforms, including PBS News, C-SPAN, and Fox News.
Who Is Moderating the Vice Presidential Debate?
CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan have been tasked with moderating the debate.
O’Donnell, 50, is the CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor, as well as a 60 Minutes contributing correspondent. In July, O’Donnell announced that she would be leaving her role at the Evening News anchor desk after the 2024 election and taking on a new position at the network.
Brennan, 44, serves as the moderator for CBS News’ Face the Nation and is the network’s chief foreign affairs correspondent. Every Sunday she invites political newsmakers on her show for pointed discussion about hot-button issues, and she has previously interviewed former President Trump during his presidency and President Biden while he was campaigning in 2020.
What Are the VP Debate Rules?
Both campaigns have agreed to a 90-minute debate featuring two four-minute commercial breaks, during which campaign staffers are prohibited from interacting with the candidates.
There will be no opening statements and no audience, following the format of the two previous presidential debates.
Each candidate will have two minutes to answer a question and two minutes for their response, with only one minute allowed for rebuttals; however, moderators may grant an extra minute for further discussion at their discretion.
Unlike the presidential debates, candidates’ microphones will remain active when their opponent is speaking, although CBS News reserves the right to mute the microphones if necessary.
Vance won a virtual coin toss on Thursday and will deliver his closing statement second, with each candidate allotted two minutes for their closing remarks. No topics or questions will be provided to the campaigns in advance.
How Are the VP Candidates Preparing?
Sources familiar tell PEOPLE that, to prepare for the debate and anticipate potential attacks, the VP candidates rehearsed with high-profile stand-ins to play their opponents.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been in character as Vance during Walz’s debate prep, while Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer has taken on the role of Walz in Vance’s rehearsals.
Source: People
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