As the vice-presidential contenders prepare to cross verbal swords in their inaugural debate, anticipation swells. Set against the ticking clock of a mere five weeks before the pivotal Nov. 5 election, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance will take to the stage on Tuesday night. This 90-minute rhetorical clash, held at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City, promises a riveting spectacle, as they each advocate for the candidates they represent — Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump.
Before his foray into the turbulent seas of politics, Vance became a household name with his 2016 memoir, Hillbilly Elegy. The book, which was subsequently adapted into a Netflix feature film in 2020, paints a vivid portrait of Vance’s modest and chaotic upbringing in Middletown, Ohio.
Catch the CBS News Vice Presidential Debate, airing Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 9 p.m. ET on CBS or simulcast via www.usatoday.com.
Vance’s early life was profoundly marked by his mother, Beverly, whose battle with substance abuse cast long shadows over his formative years. In a revealing 2017 interview with NBC’s Megyn Kelly, Vance recounted a harrowing moment from his childhood. When he was 12, his mother threatened to end both their lives during a volatile car ride. This traumatic episode culminated in her arrest, and young Vance sought refuge under the care of his maternal grandmother.
During his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Vance paid tribute to his indomitable grandmother, Bonnie Vance, affectionately referred to as “Mawmaw.” Hailing from the coal-mining heartlands of southeastern Kentucky, her resilience was forged in the fires of hardship.
In a poignant anecdote from the latter part of his speech, Vance recounted the experience of sorting through Mawmaw’s belongings after her passing in 2015. Among the discoveries were 19 loaded firearms, concealed throughout her home.
“They were hidden in every corner of her house,” Vance recounted. “Under the bed, tucked away in her closet, even nestled within the silverware drawer. It dawned on us, towards the twilight of her life, Mawmaw’s mobility had significantly waned. Yet, this fragile, aging woman ensured that wherever she found herself, she was never more than an arm’s reach from a weapon — a testament to her unyielding instinct to safeguard her loved ones.”
Although the saga of Vance’s youth is undeniably gripping, he faces the considerable task of establishing rapport with the electorate. Recent polls reveal that public sentiment skews less favorably towards Vance than it does towards Walz. According to a Pew Research Center survey this month, 34% of Americans hold a favorable view of Vance, whereas 42% see him in a negative light. In contrast, Walz garnered a 39% favorability rating, with 33% expressing an unfavorable opinion.
Reporting contributions by Reuters.
