Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance and Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz both agreed Thursday to participate in a vice-presidential debate to be hosted by CBS News on Oct. 1.
Walz first committed to debating his GOP counterpart late Wednesday after CBS News proposed four dates to choose from for the potential showdown in New York City. The network offered Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8. Seven minutes after CBS News made its announcement on X, Walz pounced on Oct. 1.
“See you on October 1, JD,” Walz wrote.
See you on October 1, JD. https://t.co/ssi0FdseN9
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) August 14, 2024
Vance was initially cautious about accepting Walz’s proposed date for the debate, telling Fox News’ Laura Ingraham hours after Walz committed to an Oct. 1 debate that he will commit to the same debate as long as the rules checked out.
On June 27, President Joe Biden debated 2024 Republican nominee Donald Trump on CNN with no audience and microphones that were muted whenever the opposing candidate spoke. Less than one month later, Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris following a weeks-long pressure campaign triggered by his poor debate performance. (RELATED: CNN Reveals Mic Muting Rules Ahead Of Trump, Biden Debate)
“I strongly suspect we’re gonna be there on October the first, but we’re not gonna do one of those fake debates, Laura, where they don’t actually have an audience there. Where they don’t actually set the parameters in the right way,” Vance told Ingraham. “We’re not gonna walk into a fake news media garbage debate. We’re gonna do a real debate, and if CBS agrees to it, then certainly, we’ll do it.”
Vance announced Thursday morning that he will debate Walz on Oct. 1, challenging the Minnesota governor to an additional debate with CNN on Sept. 18.
“The American people deserve as many debates as possible, which is why President Trump has challenged Kamala to three of them already. Not only do I accept the CBS debate on October 1st, I accept the CNN debate on September 18th as well. I look forward to seeing you at both!” Vance wrote on X.
The American people deserve as many debates as possible, which is why President Trump has challenged Kamala to three of them already. Not only do I accept the CBS debate on October 1st, I accept the CNN debate on September 18th as well. I look forward to seeing you at both! https://t.co/63FyI99dKU
— JD Vance (@JDVance) August 15, 2024
Trump challenged Harris to three presidential debates on Sept. 4 with Fox, Sept. 10 with ABC and Sept. 25 with NBC. Harris’ campaign agreed to the Sept. 10 debate as of Aug. 8, according to ABC Washington Bureau Chief Rick Klein.
There is to be a second presidential debate in October, Harris campaign communications director Michael Tyler claimed in a statement Thursday, according to Deadline. “The debate about debates is over. Donald Trump’s campaign accepted our proposal for three debates — two presidential and a vice presidential debate,” he reportedly said.
Tyler added in his statement that, provided the first Trump-Harris debate takes place, Vance and Walz will debate on Oct. 10 and the presidential candidates will face off again on an undisclosed date in October, the outlet reported.
