On Oct. 1 at 9 p.m., voters will hear from vice presidential nominees Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance for the first and only time.
The race in the top battleground states could not be tighter, with Donald Trump winning them by a 0.1% average according to RealClearPolling.
Both Walz and Vance, who were born in the Midwest, were selected to push their respective candidates over the top in the region’s close races.
Most polls indicate that Walz has an edge over Vance. New York Times/Siena polls conducted in Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin found that 44% of likely voters viewed Walz favorably as opposed to 41% unfavorable. Vance’s favorability was not far behind, at 42%. However, 48% disagreed.
An Associated Press poll released last week showed Walz’s approval rating at 42% among registered voters nationwide compared to just 27% for Vance.
U.S. House Majority Whip and Minnesota Republican Tom Emmer, who has been acting as Walz in debate prep with Vance, said that the issues will push him toward victory.
“I think JD Vance is gonna do a great job tomorrow night when people focus on the issues and the issues are very clear for the American people,” said Emmer. “Donald Trump had a great economy, lowest unemployment rate in 50 years.”
The Harris-Walz ticket has leaned on both candidates’ middle-class upbringing to say that they are better equipped to represent the interests of working people in this country.
“When you are out there talking to voters, I want you to ask them a simple question. Who is fighting for you,” said First Lady of Minnesota Gwen Walz. “Because the answer is very clear. Kamala and Tim have spent their entire careers fighting for middle-class families, like the ones they grew up in.”
