Pete Buttigieg is playing JD Vance in Tim Walz’s debate prep

Four years ago, out Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was enlisted by the Biden-Harris campaign to play the role of former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) in mock debates with then-VP candidate Kamala Harris. Buttigieg, one of Indiana’s most prominent Democrats, perhaps had insight into Pence that other people associated with the campaign did not.

Apparently, he really helped Harris prepare for her debate, and now he’s taking on a new role, that of Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), helping Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) get ready for his vice presidential debate, scheduled for October 1.

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It’s all part of a darker strategy, the out transportation secretary says… and it’s no laughing matter.

The Washington Post noted that Walz and Buttigieg were at a hotel in Minneapolis for a training session yesterday, taking notes on legal pads as they discussed the issues.

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“There are two key pivotal moments in a running mate’s time on the campaign: one is the convention speech and one is their debate performance,” said former Tim Kaine campaign chief of staff Matt Paul. Kaine was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2016.

While vice presidential debates generally aren’t thought to swing election results, Paul said that this year’s might be different since Harris and Donald Trump may only have one debate themselves.

“It seems this year, without a full presidential debate schedule and where this is falling in the race, it has somewhat raised the stakes of this debate,” he said.

Four years ago, Harris tried to dampen expectations ahead of her debate with Pence, and Walz is doing the same this week.

“Look, he’s Yale Law guy,” Walz said, referring to Vance. “I’m a public school teacher. So we know where he’s at on that.”

“You will hear me talk, like I have, about things that impact Americans — making sure they have the opportunity to thrive, making sure that we’re being factual in how we talk about that. And so I’m looking forward to it. I will work hard. That’s what I do. I fully expect that Senator Vance, as a United States senator, a Yale Law guy, he will come well-prepared.”

“This debate will serve as another clear opportunity for Governor Walz to present Vice President Harris’ winning vision of a New Way Forward to the American people who are ready to turn the page on Donald Trump,” said a Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson.

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