Was Donald Trump right when he recently said:
“Historically, the vice president in terms of the election does not have any impact. The choice of a vice president makes no difference. You’re voting for the president. You’re voting for me. If you like me, I’m gonna win.” (Donald Trump)
Regardless of Mr. Trump’s opinion, one cannot deny the fact that 8 Presidents have died in office and 1 resigned, leaving the Vice-President in charge.
Although the successor role in the event of death, resignation or removal from office is not assured, a Vice-President also serves as President of the Senate and is charged with breaking any tied votes. In December, Kamala Harris established a new record for the most Senate deadlocks decided by a Vice-President, casting her 32nd tie-breaking vote. Gone are the days when the Vice-Presidency was “the most insignificant officer that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived” (John Adams).
In 1988 and 2008, Joe Biden ran for President, eventually taking on the role of Vice-President during both terms of the Obama administration, before landing the plum job himself in 2021. After serving as Vice-President under Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021, Mike Pence announced his short-lived candidacy for President in 2023. Kamala Harris sought the Presidential nomination in 2019, ended up serving as Biden’s Vice-President and became a Presidential candidate when her boss pulled out of the race in July.
“The office of vice president has become a very appealing – and I think the best – presidential springboard.” (Joel Goldstein, author and professor emeritus, Saint Louis University School of Law)
We have come a long way since the first Vice-Presidential debate between Bob Dole and Walter Mondale in 1976. In 2020, 57.9 million people watched the debate between Vice-President Mike Pence and then Senator Kamala Harris.
On October 1st, there will undoubtedly be many more viewers looking for priceless one-liners and/or gaffes during the debate between Tim Walz and J.D. Vance. Some of the good ones from previous Vice-Presidential debates include the following:
“Can I call you Joe?” (Sarah Palin addressing Joe Biden, 2008 Vice-Presidential Debate)
“That’s a bunch of malarkey.” (Joe Biden addressing Paul Ryan, 2012 Vice-Presidential Debate)
“Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy.” (Dan Quayle addressing Lloyd Bentsen, 1988 Vice-Presidential Debate)
It is amazing to think that most average people had never heard of Tim Walz or J.D. Vance until a short time ago, yet many believe their Vice-Presidential performances at the upcoming debate may have a significant impact on election outcomes. We shall know soon enough.
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