Viewers of Tuesday’s vice presidential debate mocked Democrat Tim Walz as “uncomfortable,” fast-talking and struggling to limit his exuberant outbursts common on the campaign trail.
“Walz is so uncomfortable it’s hard to watch,” former “The View” host Meghan McCain posted on X.
Ex-Rolling Stone editor-in-chief Noah Schachtman described the Minnesota governor as “talking like he’s listing the side effects of a heart drug.”
“I’ve never seen a national candidate look as nervous as Tim Walz when he’s not speaking,” noted National Review editor in chief Rich Lowry.
“Walz looks rusty and nervous,” offered Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin. “Maybe he should have done some press interviews to better prepare.”
“Tim Walz not being able to flail around like an inflatable car wash tube man for five minutes tonight,” snarked Spectator contributing editor Stephen L. Miller, posting a meme of a student trying to restrain himself from passing gas while sitting next to a cute girl.
“Most lopsided vice presidential debate ever,” assessed California GOP Rep. Darrell Issa afterward. “JDVance [sic] was on his game. Tim Walz was nervous, uninformed, and didn’t explain why he lies all the time.”
The betting markets on Walz winning the debate also cratered shortly after its start.
Walz reportedly told close allies he was “nervous” heading into the high-profile war of words with the Ohio Republican senator, as both prepared for weeks with top advisers in mock debates.
It’s unclear whether the leak of Walz’s state of mind over the weekend was intentional, but the Trump campaign dismissed it out of hand.
“Walz is very good in debates. I want to repeat that. Tim Walz is very good in debates. Really good. He’s been a politician for nearly 20 years,” Trump adviser Jason Miller told reporters in a Monday morning on a press call.
“He’ll be very well-prepared for tomorrow night. He’s not going to be the wildly gesticulating … caricature we see at rallies pointing to Kamala Harris … dancing about on the stage,” Miller added. “Walz is going to be buttoned up.”
Walz apparently informed the vice president before she picked him as her running- mate that debates were not his strong suit — and he was afraid of letting her down at the CBS News forum, CNN reported.
Vance downplayed his own debate prep, telling The Post last week that he wasn’t having to “prepare that much” to face off against Walz.
He declined to weigh in on the matter, however, when asked for his take on Walz’s demeanor by Fox News’ Sean Hannity in the post-debate spin room.
“I was nervous,” Vance replied with emphasis.
“On a scale of 1 to 10 how nervous were you?” Hannity asked later.
“Like an 11!” a laughing Vance said again.
