It was a heavy, heated but intentional debate. An intellectual sparring session sort of.
US Vice-presidential candidates representing the interests of the Republicans and Democrats, JD Vance and Tim Walz went in with ‘missiles’ on Tuesday night over issues bordering on immigration, international conflicts, the U.S. economy, and abortion rights.
Despite several heated exchanges, the debate, marked by moments of civility and agreement, was considered one of the most polite of the 2024 election season.
The Issues
Immigration was a central theme throughout the 90-minute debate, with Vance focusing on the U.S. southern border, labeling it as a vulnerability for his opponents. Walz responded by pointing out that former President Trump had undermined bipartisan efforts that would have led to tougher immigration policies. The discussion became particularly tense when Vance’s microphone was muted following an attempt by CBS News moderators to fact-check his false claims about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio.
Also, the recent escalation in the Middle East played a significant role in the debate. Hours after Iran launched a missile attack on Israel, Walz appeared nervous as he reiterated Kamala Harris’s support for Israel, while Vance stressed that no new global conflicts arose during Trump’s presidency. Both candidates declined to state their stance on whether they supported a pre-emptive strike by Israel against Iran.
Abortion rights sparked one of the longest and most passionate exchanges of the debate. Walz highlighted the human toll of abortion restrictions, citing cases from Georgia. Vance, who previously supported national restrictions, said his views on abortion had evolved, acknowledging that Republicans needed to win back Americans’ trust on the issue.
Both candidates faced questions over past controversies, with Walz admitting to exaggerating a story about being in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square massacre. Vance, meanwhile, defended his change of opinion on Donald Trump, whom he previously criticized as “America’s Hitler.” He also reiterated his support for Trump regarding the Capitol riot, claiming that Trump’s intent was for a peaceful protest.
A Warm Exchange
Despite the friction on key issues, the debate’s overall tone was more cordial compared to previous encounters in the 2024 campaign. Vance and Walz exchanged smiles and even found moments of agreement.
Each took measured shots at the top of the ticket, with Vance targeting Harris and Walz criticizing Trump, but they also demonstrated a level of respect that has been rare in this election cycle.
