One of the more interesting bits of Tuesday’s vice presidential debate between Senator JD Vance (R-OH) and Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) was the expression and body language displayed by the candidates. Earlier on Wednesday in my debate recap piece, I commented on just that:
…Vance dominated; he was cool, confident, and whimsical at times – the little sideways glances into the camera with a slight smirk while Walz was speaking were priceless, and that’s how you knew he was waiting to pounce. On the other hand, when Walz opened the debate he was clearly nervous; his brows perpetually raised, staring at the moderators and into the camera with wide-open hoptoad eyes, he presenting a picture of anything but confidence and command.
Carole Lieberman, M.D. agrees. Dr. Lieberman is a body language expert, and on Wednesday, she gave her analysis of the event to Fox News Digital. On JD Vance’s performance, Dr. Lieberman reports:
“What JD Vance had that made him most likable and most trusted was that he was authentic… you could just say it in one word. JD Vance was authentic. He did big hand movements and so on, but they were just to explain what he was saying,” Lieberman said.
“JD Vance came across as being very steady, like you can kind of see him as a captain of the ship, and he wasn’t too stiff, but you knew what you were going to get. Each time he seemed sure of himself… And so you felt like you would be safe with him. He gave an air of stability,” Lieberman added.
Tim Walz, on the other hand, didn’t come off so well.
“With Tim Walz, he was all over the place. He was very nervous, and he also had body language signs of lying. His body language was discordant with what he was saying. It was like too much, it made you feel exhausted and scared.”
This isn’t the first time in this race a Democrat candidate came off poorly, body-language-wise.
See Related: Light As a Feather, Stiff As a Board
Body Language Expert: In CNN Interview, Kamala Harris ‘Lacked Confidence’
Here’s the thing: Appearances matter. In politics, as with many other areas of endeavor, appearances matter. Someone running for elected office should project an image of confidence, capability, of commitment. JD Vance does this; Tim Walz does not. That’s the short answer.
The long answer? This event, this vice presidential debate, probably won’t be a major game-changer, although JD Vance’s dominating performance may shift the needle some. But it’s revealed a couple of things, namely, that Tim Walz isn’t ready for the national stage and likely never will be, and that Kamala Harris made what may well prove to be the worst possible choice for her running mate.
Of course, Walz’s body language is a symptom, not a cause. His lack of confidence in the positions he is required to take is likely a large part of the discordant body language. He’s unsure of what to say because Kamala Harris herself has very little idea of what she thinks (and I use the term “thinks” in the broadest possible sense) on any given topic at any given moment. It’s tempting to feel a little sympathy for the Minnesota governor, as he was sent out Tuesday evening to define the undefined and defend the indefensible.
And the best takeaway from this event? JD Vance is an up-and-comer. Tim Walz has probably hit a dead end. The body language of the candidates makes that very plain, but the content of their remarks makes it even plainer.
