Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley on Monday recommended that Oct. 1 shall be a defining day within the 2024 presidential election — when vice presidential candidates Tim Walz (D) and JD Vance (R) face off in a televised debate.
It’s “the large second,” Brinkley, a professor of historical past at Rice College, mentioned on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“It’s going to be a very powerful vice presidential debate, I feel, in U.S. historical past after we put Walz in opposition to Vance. That’s coming our method, and it could be the final likelihood [GOP nominee Donald] Trump has if by some means Vance can rating factors and get an edge out of that,” he defined.
Brinkley’s prediction got here after host Joe Scarborough requested what’s at stake in November. That adopted a dialogue about how shut Trump and Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris are in some polls.
“American democracy, nothing much less,” replied Brinkley. “Donald Trump is a usurper of democracy. He’s a wrecking ball.”
He added, “We’ve an opportunity to unite. Kamala Harris is doing an unimaginable job, momentum’s her method, and I feel it’s simply getting some extra younger folks engaged, and North Carolina is the state. I do know all people is ready on Pennsylvania. North Carolina, to me, is actually fascinating that Harris has an opportunity of profitable there.”
Brinkley later predicted a “doomsday state of affairs” if “radioactive” Trump wins again the White Home. “Folks higher get up, take the smelling salt, and concentrate proper now. These subsequent days are going to be quick,” he warned.
Walz and Vance will go head-to-head on the CBS Information-hosted debate on Oct. 1. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has reportedly jumped into character as Vance to help Walz in mock debate classes.
Watch from the 8-minute mark right here:
