The Message Box

The Message Box

Share this post

The Message Box
The Message Box
Why This VP Debate Could Matter More than Most
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

Why This VP Debate Could Matter More than Most

Trump's age and a very close election adds scrutiny to the debate

Dan Pfeiffer's avatar
Dan Pfeiffer
Oct 01, 2024
∙ Paid
137

Share this post

The Message Box
The Message Box
Why This VP Debate Could Matter More than Most
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
35
11
Share

Most of you reading this plan to watch the vice presidential debate tonight. Why wouldn’t you? Tim Walz is great. He’s smart and charming with a biting wit; and who could forget the couch joke from his first event with Kamala Harris? Plus, J.D. Vance is equal parts odious, obsequious, and annoying. He’s a man too awkward to order a donut.

I hope Tim Walz mops the floor with him. It should be a fun watch. However, the vice presidential debate is mostly spectacle. Undecided voters won’t tune in and frankly, it rarely makes an impact. Other than the ubiquitous fly, do you remember anything about the Harris-Pence debate in 2020?

If you told me that Tim Kaine and Mike Pence never debated in 2016, I might believe you. Almost every VP debate this century made nary a ripple in the political pond.

However, tonight might be different. Maybe not a game changer, but it could make an impact with persuadable voters in a historically close race.

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to The Message Box to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Dan Pfeiffer
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More