CNN's Scott Jennings called Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a "buffoon" ahead of his Tuesday debate with Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.
Jennings, a Republican commentator for the network, made his comment during a panel discussion on the network's Sunday broadcast of State of the Union with fellow CNN hosts Jake Tapper and Karen Finney.
During the program, Tapper said he couldn't think of a time where running mates from both major parties disliked each other as Walz and Vance appeared to. The CNN host went on to speculate whether Walz and Vance's perceived animosity may be "consequential" in this November's election.
Fellow panelist and former Harris spokesperson Ashley Etienne claimed that Vance was in fact harmful to former President Donald Trump's campaign and suggested that Walz's strength was his ability to connect with "disaffected" and "independent Republicans."
"He's signaling to a constituency that you can vote for this ticket," Etienne said, prompting Jennings to mumble under his breath.
When asked by Tapper about his response to Etienne's remark, Jennings said he didn't believe Walz was a consequential candidate at all.
“Well, first of all, I don’t find him to be consequential," Jennings said. "Second of all, Walz is a buffoon, I’m sorry, this guy. He’s the only school teacher in America who brags that none of his students can get into an Ivy League school." On #CNNSOTU with @JakeTapper, @ErinMPerrine, @FinneyK, @AshleyEtienne09 & @ScottJenningsKY give their advice for the vice presidential nominees ahead of the debate pic.twitter.com/VHvp9doWK0
— State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) September 29, 2024
Jennings then referenced controversy surrounding Walz's military record.
“He’s had one consequential press interaction with our Dana Bash, who asked him about the fabrications in his own resume, and his answer was essentially, ‘Me no understand words good.’ I mean, he’s a buffoon," Jennings said. "He’s on a free ride, for running under Harris, he gets very little press. They don’t let him talk to the press for a reason.”
The Republican commentator then detailed his hopes for Walz and Vance's Tuesday debate.
“I want one thing out of this debate,” Jennings added. “I want J.D. Vance to go out there and get under his skin. He has a legendary hot, short temper. A lot of governors do, but … apparently he does."
"I want J.D. Vance to go out there and have him explain why he is denigrating J.D. Vance’s story, small town America, ends up making something better out of his life, which is something we should want for every kid," he concluded.
The Tuesday debate will be hosted by CBS News and moderated by the network's managing editor Norah O'Donnell and Face the Nation's Margaret Brennan. The debate will begin at 9 p.m. EST.
