On Tuesday, Oct. 1st, Ohio Senator and Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance will face Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz in the only 2024 vice-presidential debate. Our Townhall.com colleague Madeline Leesman was on a press call with Sen. Vance on Wednesday, and he sounds pretty confident:

Vance made the remarks on a call with reporters about Trump’s support from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Vance is scheduled to debate Walz on Oct. 1.

“I think what we’re going to focus on is making sure that I make as a concise and direct appeal to the American people as possible about Donald Trump’s successful policies and Kamala Harris’ failed policies,” Vance said.

“It’s really not a hard argument that we have to make here, because you got two candidates, both of whom have records, and Donald Trump’s is one of rising take home pay, rising wages, a strong border, and Kamala Harris’ record is one of unaffordable groceries, unaffordable housing, and Americans who are losing their jobs, a lot of them, to illegal immigrant labor,” Vance added.

JD Vance is perfectly capable of thinking on his feet, as he has proven in exchanges with opposing political figures, as well as the legacy media; it is going to be roundly entertaining to see him take on the Minnesota governor. And Sen. Vance has already made his primary theme known:

“I don’t think we have to prepare that much because we don’t have to hide our record from American people, we just have to tell them about it,” Vance added. “You don’t have to prepare if you’re not trying to hide what you have to say.”

The senator has commented in the past on why he often doesn't use a teleprompter - namely, that he has actual thoughts in his head, which is more than can be said for any number of politicians, in and out of Washington:

Audience member: "Where's your teleprompter?"

Senator @JDVance: "Ma'am, I don't need a teleprompter. I've actually got thoughts in my head, unlike Kamala Harris." pic.twitter.com/4khTHd4NSy

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) August 28, 2024

That's a key distinction, as even with a teleprompter the Democrats' presidential candidate is a train wreck; without one, when attempting to speak extemporaneously, she's a disaster.

See Related: JD Vance: 'An Illegal Action From Kamala Harris Doesn't Make an Alien Legal' 

Kamala Harris' Team Attacks, but JD Vance Turns the Tables With a Savage Comeback

The ability to speak extemporaneously is a pretty good measure of intelligence. Donald Trump can do it, although he rambles and sometimes wanders off into long-winded anecdotes, he always comes back around to his point. JD Vance can do it, and he's more succinct and disciplined in his messaging. Kamala Harris can't do it at all, and Tim Walz isn't much better; neither is anywhere near ready for prime time.

And yet, here we are.

Vice presidential debates rarely do much to move the needle on POTUS elections. This year may be different. If Donald Trump and JD Vance win, as every American knows, Trump enters this second non-consecutive term as a lame duck; he can't run again, making JD Vance the heir apparent and presumptive front-runner for the 2028 nomination. (But, let's stick with one presidential cycle at a time.) 

A lot of people tuning in to this VP debate will be watching JD Vance, to see how he holds up against Tim Walz. Smart money says JD Vance will do just fine.