12:30 Report — Vance, Walz’s goal: Do no damage

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12:30 REPORT

It’s Tuesday — Happy October! 🎃👻 And happy 100th birthday to former President Carter! You don’t look a day past 80!

Tonight’s the big Vance-Walz debate. Mics won’t be muted, so buckle in.Trump says he’ll add live commentary throughout the debate tonight. I repeat, buckle in. Tens of thousands of dockworkers are striking, which could throw a wrench into the preelection economy.Harris and Trump are stalled in a near tie.Helene rescue efforts are highlighting the devastation in North Carolina. Biden said he’ll visit later this week.

I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. 

🎤 Happening Tonight

 

It’s go time:

© AP

Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) are meeting tonight for their only debate. Dun, dun, dunnn.

Their biggest goal: Do no damage and maybe score some political points when they can. Vance is under pressure to make up for former President Trump’s weak debate performance.

Meanwhile, Walz has already set his own expectations low. He recently pointed out that Vance is a “Yale law guy” while he’s a “public school teacher.” That was certainly meant to lower the bar for his night. But Jason Miller, a top Trump campaign official, argued to CNN’s Kasie Hunt that he believes Walz has the advantage. “Walz is very good in debates,” Miller said, arguing “he’s been a politician for nearly 20 years.”

Tidbit about Vance’s debate prep: Vance said in a Teamsters call this morning that he doesn’t think he needs to prepare much. “We have well-developed views on public policy so we don’t have to prepare that much,” Vance told the Teamsters. “We feel a lot more........

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