Exclusive | Republicans underestimate Tim Walz, warns fellow Minnesotan who played the gov in debate prep

Ohio Sen.J.D.

Vance, who’s shrugged off debate prep, should not underestimate Minnesota Gov.Tim Walz ahead of Tuesday night’s face-off, a fellow North Star State ex-lawmaker warns.And he should know — he had to become Walz when he played the gov in GOP gubernatorial debate practice.Tuesday night is the first and likely only time the vice-presidential hopefuls will wrangle before the election.

Walz, 60, was key in framing the Democratic narrative around Donald Trump and Vance as “weird,” while Vance, 40, has attacked Kamala Harris’ running mate on stolen-valor claims. Marty Seifert, former Minnesota House minority leader and 2010 and 2014 gubernatorial candidate, has a unique perspective on Walz’s skills — he stood in for the Democrat in debate prep for his unsuccessful Republican challenger, Scott Jensen, two years ago.In a phone call with The Post, he predicted Walz is going to appeal to the average voter Tuesday night — and Vance will lose if he sticks with canned talking points. That might be just what the Republican plans to do, though.Vance has publicly brushed off debate prep, as The Post reported last week: “We have well-developed views on public policy, so we don’t have to prepare that much,” he said.Seifert urged Vance to stay away from personal attacks and focus on substance and, most important, the “average American.” “He needs to talk about middle America — the mainstream not the extreme,” he advised. “Vance has an opportunity if he knows how to use it.”One example: Minnesota had the largest surplus in state history, and under Walz’s leadership it was spent — and taxes were raised.Much of the state’s $17.5 billion surplus in 2023 was used for one-time funding of new and existing programs, including child tax credits, tax rebates and exemptions, free college tuition and green energy.“That’s not where the average person is.

If you had a surplus I think you’d want moderation,” Seifert noted.Seif...