Who won the Vance-Walz vice presidential debate?

Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate between Republican J.D. Vance and Democrat Tim Walz felt like a civil and relatively restrained conversation about issues that concern American voters. before the November 5 election.

In that sense, it was unlike the two presidential debates earlier this year.

The two men spent more time attacking each other’s companions over 90 minutes on the CBS News stage in New York.

The heated, policy-focused debate, with few punches from the political establishment, perhaps ultimately worked out best for Vance — a polished public speaker.

If Vance was chosen because he put ideological flesh on the bones of Trump’s conservative populism, on Tuesday night he was just as polite, unassuming, to them.

“What these guys do is they make a lot of statements about how if Donald Trump becomes president, all these terrible consequences will follow,” he said. “But in reality, Donald Trump is already president. Inflation is low. Take-home pay is higher.”

There were moments when the Republican candidate objected to what he considered unfair fact-checking from two CBS moderators, and at one point both candidates’ microphones were temporarily muted.

But most of the onstage exchanges were calm.

And there were several moments when the two men agreed on the issues – and said so.

“There’s a lot of common ground here,” Walz said late in the evening.

When Walz told about his 17-year-old son witnessing a shooting at a community center, Vance seemed genuinely worried.

“I’m sorry about that and I hope he’s okay,” he said. “God, have mercy, it’s horrible.”

The sharpest disagreements came late in the debate, on the subject of Trump’s repeated and false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

Vance, when asked whether Trump lost the recent presidential election, dodged the question and criticized what he said was the censorship of Kamala Harris.

Walz quickly noted that it was a “damned answer”.

“Denial of what happened on January 6, the first time an American president or anyone tried to overturn an election. this has to stop,” he said. “It is tearing our country apart.”

Walz went on to say that the only reason Mike Pence, Trump’s former vice president, did not take the stage was because he certified President Joe Biden’s victory.

Vance didn’t have an answer for that, insisting that in addition to being friendly and accommodating, he wouldn’t depart from Trump’s position.

Vance and Walz enter this debate with different skill sets. Vance got into a heated argument with journalists on television. Walz is at home on the campaign trail, using his polished style in contrast to more polished politicians.

During the first part of this debate, when both candidates stood behind podiums in a New York City television studio, Vance seemed much more relaxed. His responses were fluid and relentless on message, constantly reminding his audience that despite all of Vice President Kamala Harris’s promises, Democrats have held the White House for the past three and a half years. .

“If Kamala Harris has such great plans to solve the problems of the middle class, she should implement them now,” he said.

For his part, Walz seemed hesitant and uncertain about the opening topic, which addressed Iran’s missile attack on Israel on Tuesday and whether the candidates would support an Israeli pre-emptive strike on Israel. Iran’s nuclear facilities or not. Minnesota’s governor rarely talks about foreign policy and his discomfort on the subject is clear.

Democrats settled down as the debate progressed, and in his exchanges with Vance on the topic of immigration — an area of ​​Republican strength — both delivered clear messages.

Vance denied allegations that he amplified false claims about Haitian immigrants stealing and eating pets in Ohio.

“The people I worry about most in Springfield, Ohio are the American citizens whose lives have been ruined by Kamala Harris’s border policies,” he said.

Vance said undocumented migration puts a strain on city resources, driving up prices and pushing down wages.

Walz pointed to Trump’s opposition to bipartisan immigration legislation proposed earlier this year.

“I believe that Senator Vance wants to solve this problem, but by siding with Donald Trump and not finding a solution together, it will become a topic of conversation, and when it becomes a topic When we talk like this, we lose our humanity and look down on other human beings.”

When the topic turned to abortion rights — an area of ​​Democratic strength, according to polls — it was Vance who came to the defense, conceding that Republicans must do more to win the trust of voters. American tri.

“I want us, as the Republican Party, to support the family in the fullest sense of the word,” he said. I want us to make it easier for mothers who can afford to have children. There’s a lot we can do for the public.” policy front just to give women more options.”

Walz countered by saying that the Democratic Party’s position on abortion is simple: “We support women. We support the freedom to make your own choices.”

If Walz cared more about abortion, he would refuse to step up his attacks when the subject turns to gun control.

After Vance said it was important to increase security in schools, making doors and windows “stronger,” Walz talked up background checks instead of endorsing his call. Democrats on assault weapons ban and other gun restrictions.

As a congressman, Walz regularly voted in favor of gun rights and opposed many gun control measures, winning praise from the pro-gun National Rifle Association. During the debate, he said his views on gun control changed after the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, but some Democrats may be disappointed that he did not press More with Vance on Tuesday night.

American political history shows that debates between vice presidents don’t really matter.

In 1988, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen unseated Republican Dan Quayle. A few months later, Quayle was sworn in as vice president after his ticket won in a landslide.

It’s unlikely this debate will have anything to do with November’s outcome. However, unless a last-minute debate is announced, it will be the last word either party has on the debate stage. discussion before Election Day.

Walz did no harm to the Democratic ticket and displayed some of the Midwestern charm that made him Harris’ choice.

But Vance’s strong performance is likely to excite Republicans in the coming days.

And the debate’s lasting impact could be to convince members of his party that the Ohio senator – just 40 years old – has a future in national conservative politics, thanks to his clear ability to promote their ideological priorities on the brightest stages.