MINNEAPOLIS — Even though Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz has an easy-going demeanor, he can be a formidable opponent in debates. This quality persists, even when he sports a baseball cap.

Often described as disarming, the former teacher and football coach turned politician approaches his campaign debates with a wealth of data and personal stories. He presses opponents for answers with lively, animated remarks to make his points clear. Between these exchanges, he’s frequently seen sipping a Diet Mountain Dew.

His past debates have typically taken place in intimate settings such as small auditoriums and various forums across Minnesota. These settings have included traditional podiums, cozy couch discussions with opponents, relaxed conversations at state fair booths, and panel discussions at agricultural festivals. His outfit choices varied from suits and ties to laid-back plaid shirts or even graphic tees, depending on the occasion.

These experiences offer insights into what to expect on Tuesday night.

Unlike before, 60-year-old Walz won’t be in the familiar environment of his home state. Instead, he will compete in New York City against Ohio Senator JD Vance, the 2024 Republican vice presidential nominee, in a much more formal and consequential arena. This will test whether he can replicate his successful debating style while also defending his party’s platform amidst his own past challenges.

In his initial congressional debate in 2006, Walz took the offensive by questioning then-U.S. Rep. Gil Gutknecht, a Minnesota Republican, regarding security issues pertaining to the war in Iraq. “My opponent was quiet on this topic until it became a matter of the election,” he remarked. “The war in Iraq and the plight of our soldiers shouldn’t be exploited for political gain.”

Walz’s spirited side was evident when he had a chance to press Gutknecht on climate change, almost interrupting the moderator to make his point clear: “I’m doubtful I’d get a satisfactory answer on that one.”

Looking to 2022, when Walz sought reelection against physician Scott Jensen, he once confronted Jensen in a debate over his prescription practices, asserting that Jensen was swayed by pharmaceutical companies. “When Scott was writing prescriptions for opioids, he did so more frequently than 94% of his colleagues,” Walz alleged, claiming Jensen enjoyed lavish dining.

As the upcoming debate in New York will likely follow the same format as the recent presidential debate between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris—featuring no live audience, muted microphones, and no advance questions—Walz and Vance are expected to defend their party leaders’ positions while trying to win over undecided voters.

A review by YSL News of over ten hours of debate footage highlights Walz’s enduring optimism and zest throughout his nearly twenty years in politics. His hallmark modest demeanor, coupled with passionate appeals during debates, suggests he may handle the challenge of debating a U.S. senator aiming for the vice presidency quite well.

Vance is perceived as a more seasoned politician compared to Trump and has not hesitated to convey misleading narratives and engage in personal attacks throughout the campaign trail. Trump made several unfounded statements during his debate with Harris, claiming that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were involved in stealing and eating pets. Vance was among those who initially shared these false claims and continued to amplify them despite local officials’ repudiation, which raised safety alarm among the city’s residents.

As the election season reaches its climax, Walz has been engaging in campaigning across the country while his gubernatorial team prepares informally for the debate during their travels. Formal debate preparations commenced last week with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stepping in to simulate Vance in practice sessions, as reported by an informed source.

Since being selected as the vice president’s running mate, Walz has shown a genuine eagerness to challenge Vance.

During a joint rally with Harris, Walz took a jab at Vance by sharing a false rumor circulating online about a potential meeting between them.

“I’m looking forward to debating him,” Walz told the enthusiastic crowd of 14,000 in Pennsylvania back in August. “That is, if he decides to get off his couch and actually show up.”

Familiar with Hostile Challenges

Walz’s recent debate opponent exhibited a style reminiscent of Trump’s.

Even as he tried to distance himself from the former president, Jensen, who is a former Minnesota state senator, relied on debate strategies in his 2022 campaign to unseat Walz that were filled with misinformation and personal derogation.

Jensen aggressively challenged Walz in their debates, labeling the current governor as “lazy” and scrutinizing significant issues Walz is likely to defend again in the upcoming debate on Tuesday: the COVID-19 pandemic, election integrity, and Minnesota’s response to the police killing of George Floyd.

During an agricultural tradeshow debate in August 2022, Walz became visibly frustrated with Jensen, raising his voice after a series of remarks from Jensen about COVID and electric vehicle policies.

“Instead of spreading falsehoods, why not be part of the solution?” Walz exclaimed while wearing a ‘Minnesota Grown’ baseball cap and a graphic tee featuring a radish. “As the leader of this state, it’s your duty to say, ‘I take responsibility; I will promote positive action.'”

In his campaign, Jensen criticized Walz for enforcing mask mandates, social distancing measures, and stay-at-home orders in response to the pandemic. However, his attacks didn’t stop at public health. During an October 2022 debate, Jensen accused Walz’s administration of allowing the largest pandemic fraud scheme in the nation, resulting in $250 million meant for feeding children being stolen.

“He broke the law by failing to alert the Office of the Legislative Auditor about the potential fraud,” Jensen claimed, alleging that Walz’s government covered up the issue, enabling the non-profit Feeding Our Future to exploit government funding and scam the public.

In September, a congressional committee subpoenaed Walz and other state officials as part of a House GOP-led investigation into Walz’s previous actions. The letter from House Education Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., accused Walz of negligence which allowed the fraud to occur and requested documents regarding his administration’s handling of the situation.

Walz is also likely to address Minnesota’s handling of the violence that inflicted billions of dollars in damage to Minneapolis in May 2020, which sparked national discussions on police reform. During their 2022 debate, Jensen confronted Walz about his failure to prevent the unrest following George Floyd’s police murder.

“This is a product of lawlessness that has taken over our state, starting with Tim Walz’s inaction in May and June of 2020,” Jensen stated during the debate. “He has unleashed lawlessness—he could be seen as the Godfather of the crime wave that has hit our nation.”

Walz did not respond to Jensen’s comments immediately but later discussed his actions related to the protests, including deploying the Minnesota National Guard to manage the demonstrators.

“Making decisions comes with the territory,” Walz responded. “Pointing fingers from the sidelines isn’t what being governor is about; it’s about tackling tough choices in real-time.”

Walz continued: “I expressed pride in our first responders; (Jensen) might not feel that way, but I do. This was an extraordinarily challenging and unprecedented situation; there’s no roadmap for handling it. I’ve stood alongside the National Guard for 24 years and take pride in that service.”

What to Anticipate on Tuesday

According to Ben Warner, the director of the University of Missouri’s Political Communication Institute, to succeed against Vance in the debate, Walz should lean into his strengths: being approachable and genuine.

However, Warner cautioned that Walz shouldn’t come off as too passive, as overdoing it could undermine his campaign. He referenced the 2016 vice presidential debate where Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine and then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence faced off as a cautionary example of what to avoid.

“(Kaine) was surprisingly aggressive, which didn’t fit his friendly persona, and it unsettled voters,” Warner added. “(Walz is) better off sticking to what has served him well throughout this campaign.”

Throughout his two-month campaign, Walz has taken on the role of Harris’ optimistic partner, occasionally delivering subtle critiques of Vance, while maintaining a lead over him in polls regarding likability and overall capability.

Humble beginnings

Tim Walz’s approach to campaigning has remained consistent since his inaugural congressional bid in 2006. Back then, at the age of 42, he was introduced as “high school teacher Tim Walz” during his initial debate against Gutknecht.

Before this debate, the first congressional district had a Republican lean, held by six-term incumbent Gutknecht. Remarkably, the district had only supported one Democrat in over a century until Walz’s victory in 2006. His campaign centered around opposition to the Iraq War, and he employed many of the strategies still prevalent today, such as appealing to middle America, passionately advocating for more representative governance in D.C., and incorporating football references.

In his closing remarks during the debate, Walz addressed the viewers watching from home, noting he took a 22-month unpaid leave from teaching to focus on the campaign that would eventually launch his political career.

“I faced a campaign driven by fear and misinformation, but I stood my ground and spoke the truth to you,” Walz expressed. “There’s nothing wrong with America that can’t be set right through an election. My hope for this country is immense.”