COLUMBIA, S.C. — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance have agreed to debate each other on October 1, setting up a matchup of potential vice presidents as early voting begins in some states for the general election. elections.
And Vice President Kamala Harris has predicted the scheduling of a second debate between Donald Trump and herself, although that matchup appeared to be contingent on the GOP nominee’s participation in an already scheduled September 10 debate with Harris.
CBS News posted on its
Walz reposted that message from his own campaign account: “See you on October 1st, JD.” The Harris-Walz campaign followed up with a message of its own, saying Walz “looks forward to debating J.D. Vance – if he shows up.”
Vance posted on X that he would accept the October 1 invitation. He also challenged Walz to a meeting on September 18.
Harris-Walz campaign officials did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Vance’s acceptance of the earlier debate that he said would take place on CNN, and whether Walz would participate.
CNN representatives confirmed that Vance had accepted the network’s debate invitation.
“CBS Evening News” host Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan of “Face the Nation” will moderate the Oct. 1 debate, the network said.
The question was whether Walz and Vance would debate before the Nov. 5 general election. In recent weeks, President Joe Biden left the campaign and Democrats chose Harris as leader.
Vance has kept his focus largely on Harris, whom he would have debated before Biden dropped out of the race. Vance has criticized Walz, including questioning the service record of the retired Army National Guard.
Trump has said he wanted Vance to debate Walz on CBS, which had discussed possible dates for that meeting.
The debate is expected weeks after the September 10 top-of-the-ticket debate recently aired between Trump and Harris on ABC News.
Trump has said he has negotiated several other debate dates, on three different networks. Fox News has also suggested that a debate between Harris and Trump would take place on September 4, and NBC News aims to air one on September 25.
During an appearance in Michigan, Harris said she was “pleased to have that conversation” about an additional debate.
On Thursday, Harris’ campaign said Trump had “accepted our proposal for three debates,” meaning one between the vice presidential running mates in addition to two presidential debates. Provided Trump continues his participation in the September 10 ABC debate, Harris-Walz spokesman Michael Tyler said “the American people will have another opportunity” to see Harris and Trump on the debate stage in October, without a specific date or date. network.
Neither campaign immediately responded to a message seeking comment on whether a date or network had been set for a second presidential debate.
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Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP ___
AP Media writer David Bauder in New York contributed to this report.
