Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) took aim at Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) on Sunday, ahead of the vice presidential debate, where Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) will face off against Walz.
Appearing on ABC’s This Week, Emmer, who served as a stand-in for Walz during Vance’s debate prep, said he spent the last month studying Walz’s past speeches and mannerisms to accurately portray him.
“My job was to be able to play Tim Walz so J.D. Vance knows what he’s going to see,” Emmer explained.
When asked about how he was able to capture Walz’s “folksy” persona, Emmer said that beneath the surface, Walz’s policies have been a “complete disaster” in Minnesota.
He added that Walz’s down-to-earth image is a carefully crafted facade, saying, “Once you get to know the real Tim Walz, he’s like Gavin Newsom in a flannel shirt.”
Emmer predicted that Vance will hold Walz accountable for his policies during the debate, and that Walz will try to deflect from his record.
The vice presidential debate, hosted by CBS News, is set to take place on Tuesday at 9 p.m. in New York City. Despite a slight edge in favorability ratings, Walz may still face a tough challenge from Vance, who is likely to highlight Walz’s perceived shortcomings in the debate.
