As the Democratic Party’s go-to debate coach, Pete Buttigieg has been tasked with preparing Governor Tim Walz for his upcoming debate against Senator J.D. Vance. In a surprising move, Buttigieg has taken on the role of Vance in debate prep, a position that reflects his reputation as a skilled debater.
Buttigieg’s experience in debate prep is not new, having previously coached Kamala Harris for the 2020 vice presidential debate by playing the role of then-Vice President Mike Pence. He described the experience as “weird” and “challenging” but emphasized that his goal was not to impersonate Pence but to accurately render his style to help Harris prepare.
This time around, Buttigieg must get into the mindset of Vance, who has been characterized by liberal journalist Ezra Klein as a “nihilistic” and feigning support for Trump to boost his political standing. Buttigieg has been studying Vance’s mannerisms and policy positions, which he believes are harmful to the Midwest.
Buttigieg’s approach to debate prep involves understanding his opponent’s perspective and using that knowledge to his advantage. He has been thinking about how to penetrate Vance’s “faux populism” and expose the flaws in his policy positions.
On the other side, House Republican Whip Tom Emmer played the role of Walz in Vance’s debate prep, studying videos of Walz’s past debates to mimic his mannerisms. It’s likely that Buttigieg will employ a similar tactic to get into character for Vance.
Buttigieg’s debating skills were first showcased during the 2019 Democratic primary debates, where debate coach Todd Graham ranked him as one of the top performers. Graham praised Buttigieg’s ability to provide unique and on-topic answers while maintaining a calm and assertive demeanor.
Buttigieg’s reputation as a skilled debater has earned him a spot as a regular guest on Fox News, where he often argues with pundits. His effectiveness in these situations has led to him being jokingly referred to as having “Fox News fame.”
