Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) did not mention one of Ohio Sen. JD Vance’s most infamous lines during their face-off Tuesday night, missing a chance to attack the Republican vice presidential nominee on an issue representing one of his key vulnerabilities with the American public.
Vance, one of the most unpopular vice presidential candidates in recent memory, has drawn widespread criticism over comments from 2021 in which he said the Democratic Party is run by a “bunch of childless cat ladies,” singling out Vice President Kamala Harris, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. He has also suggested that people who don’t have kids do not have a “direct stake” in the future of the country.
“We’re effectively run in this country, via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too,” he told Fox News at the time.
But Walz did not bring up Vance’s infamous words during the 90 minutes of the CBS News vice presidential debate, missing an opportunity to take a jab at the Ohio Republican over the insensitive comments that have drawn backlash from prominent figures, including “Friends” star Jennifer Aniston.
CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan, who moderated the event, also did not ask Vance about his “childless cat ladies” comments.
Still, Walz managed to land a few punches against Vance, including by pressing the GOP candidate to answer whether former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election.
Vance dodged the question.
“Tim, I’m focused on the future,” Vance said.
“That’s a damning non-answer,” Walz shot back.
Vance is deeply unpopular with voters, with 45.5% viewing him unfavorably, according to an average of polls compiled by news site 538.
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