With just 34 days left until the US presidential election, Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz faced off in a vice-presidential debate in New York City.
Vance, a U.S. senator from Ohio, avoided the pitfalls of Donald Trump, whose previous debate performance against Kamala Harris was widely criticized. Vance succeeded in this regard, presenting a composed and polished demeanor throughout the CBS News Vice Presidential Debate held at CBS Studios in New York City.
In his opening statements, Vance sought to connect with voters by sharing his background: “I grew up in a middle-class family and went to college on the GI Bill after serving in Iraq.” This introduction aimed to humanize Vance and provide context to his political platform.
Conversely, Walz, the governor of Minnesota, stumbled early in the debate. When questioned about U.S. policy regarding a preemptive strike by Israel against Iran, he confused the two countries, stating, “Iran, or I, uh, Israel’s ability to be able to defend itself is fundamental.” Moments later, he added, “The expansion of Israel and its proxies is a fundamental necessity for the United States to steady leadership there.” His mix-up set a shaky tone for the night.
Tork Mason, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY
Throughout the debate, Walz appeared nervous and sometimes rushed, leading him to stumble over his words. He later addressed past statements regarding his presence during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Reports had surfaced suggesting Walz was in Nebraska during the protests, not Hong Kong as he had claimed. However, he admitted, “I misspoke,” and called himself “a knucklehead.”
Both candidates faced difficult inquiries. Vance was pressed on his past remarks referring to Trump as “America’s Hitler” and his controversial assertions about Haitian migrants. He responded, “I was wrong about Donald Trump,” attributing his earlier criticisms to “dishonest media reports.” He also challenged Harris’s leadership, stating, “If Kamala Harris has such great plans for how to address middle-class problems, then she ought to do them now, not when asking for a promotion.”
As the debate progressed, Vance shifted focus to the future, stating, “We want to focus on solutions,” while accusing Democrats of attempting to censor criticism of the election system. In contrast, Walz warned of potential threats to democracy, saying, “Trump and his allies are laying the groundwork for more protests and another attempt to overthrow the election if they lose in November.”
With polls indicating a competitive race, Vance’s performance may have influenced his standing among undecided voters, while Walz’s gaffes could raise questions about the Democratic ticket’s effectiveness.
The debate, the only scheduled confrontation between the vice presidential nominees, could ultimately shape both parties’ final strategies as they prepare for the November 5 election.
