"Next Week's US Vice Presidential Debate to Be Held Standing"...Wolz and Vance Participate in Mock Debate

With the U.S. presidential election coming up this November, the vice presidential candidate debate scheduled for next week will be held standing without chairs. Both Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota, and Republican candidate Senator J.D. Vance have confirmed their attendance, and the debate format is expected to be largely similar to the previous presidential candidate debates.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

According to the New York Times (NYT) and others on the 24th (local time), the vice presidential candidate TV debate will be hosted by CBS News and held at a New York studio on the 1st of next month. It will take place from 9 p.m. Eastern Time and last about 90 minutes. Multiple sources have confirmed that both Governor Walz and Senator Vance have agreed to participate in the debate. With just over a month and a half left until the November election, this CBS News debate is expected to be the final debate between the vice presidential candidates.

CBS News is currently discussing the detailed debate format with both candidates' teams. It has not yet been decided whether there will be a live audience in the studio where the debate takes place. However, the NYT reported that this vice presidential TV debate will be conducted standing without chairs, and other aspects of the format will be largely similar to the presidential candidate TV debate held three weeks earlier. The presidential candidate TV debate hosted by ABC News on September 10 was held without an audience, and microphones were muted when it was not a candidate’s turn to speak.

This will be the first time since 2008 that vice presidential running mates participate in a standing debate. In 2008, Democratic Senator Joe Biden and Republican Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska debated in St. Louis. That debate was watched by about 70 million people, making it the most viewed vice presidential debate in history. In the presidential election four years ago, Democratic candidate Senator Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Vice President Mike Pence debated seated behind a transparent barrier. That debate was watched by 58 million people.

The NYT highlighted the fact that this year’s vice presidential debate will be held standing, calling it "rare for vice presidential candidates." The outlet added, "The question of whether to stand or sit has recently been decided by the Commission on Presidential Debates," and "For most candidates, unless there are physical limitations or significant height differences, it generally does not matter much whether they stand or sit." Governor Walz is under 6 feet tall, while Senator Vance is about 6 feet tall.

Both sides are intensifying preparations ahead of the TV debate, which is less than a week away. Governor Walz is conducting mock debates against Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is acting as a stand-in for Senator Vance. A source said that this weekend, Governor Walz will participate in a kind of dress rehearsal in Harbor Springs, Michigan, with a podium, moderator, and TV lighting prepared, debating with Secretary Buttigieg. Walz’s debate preparations are reportedly being assisted by Rob Friedlander, former chief of staff at the White House National Economic Council (NEC), and Zain Siddiq.

Senator Vance is also conducting mock debates online with Tom Emmer, the Republican House Majority Whip, who is acting as a stand-in for Governor Walz. Local media reported that Emmer, whose district is in Minnesota, was chosen as a stand-in because he has known Walz for a long time. Additionally, Senator Vance has been engaging in Q&A sessions with journalists. The NYT noted, "Since both candidates were nominated as vice presidential candidates, Senator Vance has participated in more interviews than Governor Walz."