In Eau Claire, Wis., Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance shared a light-hearted moment on Wednesday as he made a playful attempt to catch up with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris on an airport tarmac they both happened to be on during their respective campaign travels. Vance jokingly stated that he wanted to inspect his “future plane” when he walked off former President Donald Trump’s campaign aircraft and headed straight to Air Force Two, where Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, had just arrived.
In a teasing manner, Vance expressed his desire to greet the vice president and question her about her reluctance to engage with the media, highlighting her lack of significant interviews or full press conferences since the start of her campaign on July 21. Vance noted his commitment to addressing the media and answering questions, contrasting it with Harris’ approach.
Despite his efforts, Vance mentioned that he was unable to speak directly to Harris during the encounter. It is not uncommon for rival candidates to cross paths during a general election campaign, especially in the limited geographical scope of campaign activities focused on key states crucial for determining the Electoral College outcome.
Reflecting on the encounter, Vance described the encounter as a bit of fun and humorously mentioned that he did not receive a wave from the vice president as she departed. Meanwhile, while Harris and Walz were touring battleground states, Vance was campaigning in Wisconsin as a counter-move.
In a lighthearted jest, Vance expressed his readiness to participate in a debate with Harris on August 13, a match that was initially scheduled before Biden withdrew from the race. This hypothetical debate would have positioned Vance and Harris against each other as vice presidential rivals on the same stage, adding a touch of playful banter to the campaign atmosphere.