Walz accepts vice presidential debate invitation and goads Vance to agree to terms

Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) has agreed to debate Republican counterpart Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) on Oct. 1 on CBS.

“See you on October 1, JD.,” Walz posted on X.

In a separate statement, a campaign official for Vice President Kamala Harris described Walz as anticipating the debate, but cast doubt on whether Vance would attend.

“Harris for President has accepted CBS’ invitation to a Vice Presidential Candidate Debate on October 1,” the official wrote. “Gov. Walz looks forward to debating JD Vance — if he shows up.”

Vance and former President Donald Trump‘s campaign were originally skeptical of negotiating a debate after Harris initially accepted CBS’ invitation for a July or August debate before Trump had even announced his running mate.

“Given the continued political chaos surrounding Crooked Joe Biden and the Democrat Party, general election debate details cannot be finalized until Democrats formally decide on their nominee,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung wrote last month during the Republican National Convention. “There is a strong sense by many in the Democrat Party — namely Barack Hussein Obama — that Kamala Harris is a Marxist fraud who cannot beat President Trump, and they are still holding out for someone ‘better.’”

“Therefore, it would be inappropriate to schedule things with Harris because Democrats very well could still change their minds,” he added.

Walz and Vance have traded barbs since Harris announced Walz as her second in command last week, particularly over insistences regarding the governor’s 24 years of service in the National Guard.

“These guys are attacking me for my record of service,” Walz told the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Convention in Los Angeles this week. “Let me be clear, I am damn proud of my service to our country. And I firmly believe you should never denigrate another person’s record of service. To anyone brave enough to put on the uniform of our great country, including my opponent, I just have a few simple words: Thank you for your service and sacrifice.”

Harris and Trump have settled on Sept. 10 on ABC for their debate after their negotiations were carried on in public and private.

“He won’t debate, but he and his running mate sure seem to have a lot to say about me,” Harris told a crowd last month in Atlanta. “Well, Donald, I do hope you’ll reconsider to meet me on the debate stage because, as the saying goes, if you’ve got something to say, say it to my face.”

“I look forward to the debates because I think we have to set the record straight,” Trump said last week during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The Washington Examiner reached out to the Trump-Vance campaign for comment.