Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of material from 11 contributing columnists, along with other commentary online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.
•••
Did you know that I actually moderated a DFL primary debate that included Gov. Tim Walz in 2017? Probably not, because even I forgot.
Watching last night, I remembered that old debate. Back then, I thought Walz would clean up. He entered the governor’s race as a swing state congressman with a lot of charisma. But he was nervous, I recalled, and — while not bad — wasn’t remarkable in comparison to the other candidates.
The same might be said of Walz’s performance Tuesday night. When he was speaking authentically, he had great moments — on health care and democracy, for instance. But when he was speaking on foreign policy, or when the questions were pointed at his past misstatements or policies, he became nervous and lost an edge.
Stylistically, Sen. JD Vance came across smoother, more prepared and more articulate than Walz, and especially compared to Trump last month. He sounded a bit smug at times. His claim that illegal immigrants cause rising housing costs was another cynical exploitation of the immigration issue. But his goal was to put a softer lens on the Trump agenda, and he did that.
If you wanted to make a big issue of Walz’s awkward misstatements, you could. But he was also more real. If you wanted to make a big issue of Vance’s indirect answers on a lot of core issues, you could. But he was also more forceful. In some ways, the debate was more civil and substantive than anything we’ve seen in the last two election cycles. But, in a sad irony, that’s exactly why this debate will be lucky to make the Wikipedia page for Election 2024.
