What impact can a vice presidential candidate have on a presidential election?

Erie News Now political contributor Dr. Jeff Bloodworth said it depends on who the candidate is.

"People forget this but Bill Clinton was in third place in May of 1992 when he chose Al Gore and it was not like people thought alright, I am going to vote for Al Gore but it sent a message that there is a partnership and so there are times in which a vice presidential candidate can build a certain kind of synergy with the presidential candidate," Bloodworth said.

Bloodworth said Gov. Tim Walz appearing in Erie shows that the Democrats understand how important Erie County is in the race for the presidency.

He said the Harris-Walz ticket is looking to build a movement.

"That is what the Democrats are hoping for is that this will be a movement that points towards the future and turns the page on the past, we will see but the early returns on Walz and Harris is that there is something there, there is some real energy," he said.

Which vice presidential candidate's values more align with Erie County voters, Bloodworth said that is up to voters to decide but they both have a case.

"They both have a biography and a background that they can pitch to Erie County voters.

Hillbilly Elegy, Sen. JD Vance's memoir which is a good book, I have assigned it in class, in fact, and just based on that, this is somebody who comes from the Rust Belt and a tough background in his family situation, this is somebody that people in Erie and surrounding areas can relate to.

Gov. Tim Walz is the same way, a former football coach, high school teacher and somebody who understands how to talk to normal people," he said.