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● Walz didn’t hurt the Democratic ticket
Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate between Republican J.D. Vance and Democrat Tim Walz seemed like a civilized and relatively subdued conversation about the issues that matter most to American voters ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
In this, it was different from the two presidential debates earlier this year.
The two men spent far more time attacking each other’s vice president than each other during more than 90 minutes on the CBS News stage in New York.
Walz had a shaky start, but hit his stride when talking about abortion and the Capitol riot.
But calm, policy-focused debate, with little political body blowing, probably served Vance — a fine public speaker — better in the end.
If Vance was chosen because he puts ideological flesh on Trump’s conservative populism, on Tuesday evening he also showed them a polite and humble face.
“One thing these guys do is make a lot of statements about the possibility of Donald Trump becoming president. All these terrible consequences will result,” he said. “But in reality, Donald Trump was president. Inflation was low. The take home pay was higher.
There were moments when the Republican candidate bristled at what he felt was unfair fact-checking by the two CBS moderators, and at one point both candidates’ microphones were temporarily muted.
But for the most part the exchanges on stage were balanced.
And there were several moments when the two men agreed on some issues – and said so.
“There are a lot of commonalities here,” Walz said toward the end of the evening.
When Walz talked about his 17-year-old son witnessing a shooting at a community center, Vance seemed genuinely concerned.
“I’m sorry, and I hope he’s okay,” he said. “Christ, have mercy, this is terrible.”
The most vigorous disagreements came toward the end of the debate, on the topic of Trump’s repeated false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
Vance, when asked if Trump lost the last presidential election, sidestepped the question and criticized what he called the censorship of Kamala Harris.
Walz immediately noted that it was a “damn non-answer.”
“To deny what happened on January 6, the first time an American president or anyone else attempted to overturn an election, you have to stop,” he said. “It’s tearing our country apart.”
Walz went on to say that the only reason Mike Pence, Trump’s previous vice president, was not on stage was because he had certified President Joe Biden’s victory.
Vance had no response, noting that, beyond his friendly and pleasant demeanor, he would not budge from Trump’s position.
Two different styles
Vance and Walz entered this debate with different expertise. Vance got into heated exchanges with reporters on television. Walz is comfortable on the campaign trail, using his folksy style in contrast to more refined politicians.
In the first part of the debate, with both candidates standing behind the podium of a New York television studio, Vance seemed much more at ease. His answers were smooth and relentlessly consistent with the message, constantly reminding the audience that, for all of Vice President Harris’ promises, Democrats have held the White House for the past three and a half years.
“If Kamala Harris has such big plans for how to address the problems of the middle class, then she should make them happen now,” he said.
Walz, for his part, seemed hesitant and unsure about the opening topic, which deals with Tuesday’s Iranian missile attack on Israel and whether the candidates would support a pre-emptive Israeli strike on Iran. The Minnesota governor rarely talks about foreign policy, and his discomfort on the topic was evident.
A brief guide to JD Vance
A brief guide to Tim Walz
The Democrat calmed down as the debate progressed, and during his exchanges with Vance on the topic of immigration – an area of strength for Republicans – both delivered clear-cut messages.
Vance deflected accusations that he amplified false claims about Haitian immigrants stealing and eating pets in Ohio.
“The people who concern me most in Springfield, Ohio, are the American citizens whose lives have been ruined by Kamala Harris’ border policies,” he said.
Vance argues that illegal immigration burdens city resources, drives up prices and drives down wages.
Walz highlighted Trump’s opposition to proposed bipartisan immigration legislation earlier this year.
“I believe Senator Vance wants to solve this problem, but by siding with Donald Trump and not working together to find a solution, it becomes a talking point, and when it becomes a talking point like this, we dehumanize and criminalize other human beings.” .
What voters thought of the VP debate
Election polls: Harris or Trump wins?
When the topic turned to abortion rights – a strong point for Democrats, according to polls – it was Vance who played defense, recognizing that Republicans needed to do more to earn the trust of American voters.
“I want us, as the Republican Party, to be pro-family in every sense of the word,” he said. “I want us to make it easier for moms to afford to have kids. There is so much we can do on the public policy front just to give women more options.”
Walz countered that the Democratic view on abortion is simple: “We are pro-women. We are in favor of the freedom to make your own choice.”
If Walz was more focused on abortion, he refused to push his attacks when the topic turned to gun control.
After Vance said it was important to increase security in schools by making doors and windows “stronger,” Walz talked about background checks rather than backing Democratic calls to ban assault weapons and other firearms restrictions .
As a member of Congress, Walz regularly voted for gun rights and against many gun control measures, earning praise from the pro-gun National Rifle Association. During the debate, he said his views on gun control have changed since the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, but some Democrats may be disappointed that he didn’t put more pressure on Vance Tuesday night.
Will this affect the race?
American political history suggests that vice presidential debates 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 may turn out that this debate is equally irrelevant to the November results. Unless a last-minute debate is announced, however, this will be the last say either party has in a debate stage before Election Day.
Walz didn’t hurt the Democratic ticket and showed some of the Midwestern charm that made him Harris’ choice.
But Vance’s strong performance is likely to buoy Republicans in the coming days.
And the debate’s lasting impact could be to convince members of his party that the Ohio senator — who is only 40 years old — has a future in national conservative politics, given his ability to clearly advance their ideological priorities on the brightest stage. [BBC]
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