fbpx

Walz-Vance Debate: Economy, Immigration, Foreign Policy and Reproductive Health at Heart of Discussions

Emmanuel Paul
Emmanuel Paul - Journalist/ Storyteller

After Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, it’s the vice-presidential candidates’ turn to face off.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance will debate this Tuesday. For 90 minutes, the two former military men will square off on a number of public issues.

The economy, the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, Israel-Hamas, and immigration are expected to be the main topics of the debate, which will be presented by CBS News.

Editor-in-Chief Norah O’Donnell and Foreign Correspondents Director Margaret Brennan will be the main moderators.

Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, could also be at the center of exchanges between the two vice-presidential candidates.

During the debate between the presidential candidates, former President Donald J. Trump had falsely accused fellow Haitians of stealing and eating the pets of Springfield residents. Senator JD Vance was the first to relay this false information on his X account, formerly Twitter.

Although these allegations were denied, even by members of his own party, this didn’t stop the junior senator from Ohio from maintaining his racist and false accusations.

Answering questions from CNN’s Dana Bash, JD Vance had said he had “no problem making up information”, as long as it could “get the attention of Americans”.

The two moderators are sure to press the Republican senator on his unfounded accusations.

The next report on the unemployment rate will also be published this Tuesday. If the numbers come in below expectations, JD Vance could try to hold the Democratic ticket accountable, while Tim Walz should capitalize on the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration.

Abortion and reproductive rights should also be major topics of debate.

JD Vance will probably do his utmost to avoid this topic, while Tim Walz will have a field day. Reproductive health is the Republicans’ Achilles heel. During his presidency, Donald Trump appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court, who would partially abolish the right to abortion guaranteed by law for over 50 years.

Tuesday’s debate will be a crucial test for the two vice-presidential candidates, who have little experience of such high-level exchanges. It will be an opportunity for each to prove their ability to win over the national electorate, particularly in a tense political climate. The performance of the two candidates could also influence the dynamics of the presidential campaign, particularly in key states such as Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin among others.