It’s the cool thing to say that a vice presidential debate doesn’t matter in the sense that it has never changed the outcome of an election, and thus the course of history. But in an election cycle that is like none other, where the polls barely budge and the race is razor-tight, what happens on the debate stage Tuesday night could be consequential.

It has the makings of a Saturday Night Live skit: When a governor and a senator meet to trade barbs, and one has called the other “weird,” and they’re both vets, having volunteered to serve their country, yet one accuses the other of exaggerating his record, calling it “stolen valor,” a serious charge in the military.

If you’ve read this far, you know which is which, and one of them will head to the White House to serve as vice president. What they say and how they conduct themselves in Tuesday evening’s debate could help propel the ticket they’re on—or pose a speed bump in the presidential race.

The two men have never met face to face, and their animus for each other is palpable. JD Vance, in the Senate for less than two years and new to politics, didn’t appreciate being called “weird,” a label that went viral. Likewise, Tim Walz, a former public school teacher and coach with a long record of public service, didn’t appreciate being called out for exaggeration.

These are potent weapons they have deployed on the campaign trail. Will they go after each other face to face—and will it matter?

Vance enters the fray with twice as many voters who dislike him than like him. His negatives have only climbed since he was named to the ticket in July. His goal is not to win over voters for the GOP ticket but to score points against the other side by hammering Walz for the........

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