As Sen.JD Vance prepares to face Gov.
Tim Walz in next week's vice-presidential debate, the Ohio senator is turning to Minnesota Rep.Tom Emmer to help him in debate rehearsals by playing Walz, sources familiar with the plans told ABC News.One of the sources said Emmer was invited to stand in for Walz so that Vance could prepare to take on the governor's folksy personality.Vance's debate preparations have included sessions at his Cincinnati home and online sessions with his team and with Jason Miller, a senior advisor on former President Donald Trump's campaign, a source told ABC News.MORE: Walz debate prep underway with Pete Buttigieg as Vance stand-in Republican vice-presidential nominee Sen.
JD Vance speaks at a campaign event in Raleigh, N.C., Sept.18, 2024.Karl B Deblaker/APVance is expected to paint Walz as too liberal, focusing on the policies he has passed while governor of Minnesota, one of the sources said.Emmer is the third-ranking Republican in the House and serves as the majority whip.
Emmer also previously served as the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee.House Majority Whip Tom Emmer speaks during a press conference at the Republican National Committee in Washington, Sept.18, 2024.Will Oliver/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockEmmer backed Trump for president earlier this year -- despite the fact that the former president called Emmer a "Globalist RINO" who is "totally out-of-touch" with Republican voters, effectively tanking Emmer's speakership bid in October 2023.Walz and Emmer overlapped in the House from 2015 through 2019 before Walz ran for governor of Minnesota.MORE: Trump helped tank Emmer, Scalise speakership bids.
Now they're endorsing him for presidentWalz's debate preparations are also underway with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg acting as a Vance stand-in during the Walz team's debate rehearsals.Walz has also held policy sessions with his own longtime aides, Biden White House alumni and members of the Harris-Walz campaig...