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First, the VP debate is likely the last debate of the campaign. Trump is declining Harris’ challenge to a second debate. The face-off between Vance, a Yale-educated lawyer and U.S. senator from Ohio, and Walz, a former high school teacher and Minnesota governor, at this point is the last marquee event of the campaign. In past elections, the final presidential debate comes in October. Not this year.

Second, Trump is 78, the oldest candidate for president in modern history — after President Joe Biden dropped out. That means his running mate has to be evaluated as a future president. That’s likely to happen during the debate, both by voters and his opponent. Expect to hear questions about Vance’s comments denigrating immigrants, criticizing “childless cat ladies� and describing Trump as potentially “America’s Hitler.�

Across the stage from Vance is a self-professed bad debater, Walz, known for a folksy style and blunt manner of speaking. He’s reportedly nervous about debating but knows his job is to promote the boss to voters and continue to prosecute the case against a second Trump presidency. With six years as governor and 12 years in the House of Representatives, Walz brings with him a substantive record. His backstory — as a National Guardsman, teacher, football coach and later, politician — will be front and center.

Tim Ryan, who debated Vance in 2020 as the two faced off for Senate, said this on CNN about Vance: “He’s a smart guy, but he’s a very insecure guy, and he’s got very, very thin skin. And Walz is — he could bust your balls and you’re not even sure he busted your balls, but he did because he’s got such a nice demeanor about him.�

That “Minnesota nice� — eviscerating an opponent with a smile — is perhaps a secret weapon for Walz during the debate. He is, after all, the guy who summed up the GOP as “weird� — a one-word description that got under Trump’s skin and dominated election conversation in August. In response, Vance has attacked Walz over the details of his 24 years of National Guard service, even trying to argue that Walz wasn’t a “coach� for the state championship football team, merely a defensive coordinator.

Yet despite numerous attacks, Walz has remained popular among voters, with a recent Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll showing only 32% of people have an unfavorable opinion of Walz, compared to 57% for Vance. How popular either man will be after the debate, of course, remains to be seen.

In a race perceived to be neck and neck, a rousing performance by either could provide the margin of victory. Vice-presidential debates don’t matter — until they do. This could be the year.