JD Vance and Tim Walz Clash in VP Debate

JD Vance and Tim Walz Clash in Policy-Heavy Vice Presidential Debate
In a vice-presidential debate on Tuesday, JD Vance and Tim Walz engaged in a policy-heavy exchange that surprisingly prioritized civility amidst a heated election campaign. The two candidates, who have exchanged sharp criticisms on the campaign trail, maintained a cordial tone, directing their critiques mainly at their running mates, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump.

The most intense moment occurred when Vance, who has stated he would not have certified the 2020 election results, sidestepped a question about challenging this year’s vote if Trump were to lose. Walz pointedly criticized Trump’s false claims of voter fraud that incited the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. “He is still saying he didn’t lose the election,” Walz remarked, directing a question at Vance: “Did he lose the 2020 election?”

Vance again avoided a direct answer, instead accusing Harris of pursuing online censorship. “That is a damning non-answer,” Walz replied.

The 60-year-old Walz, a liberal governor from Minnesota and former high school teacher, and 40-year-old Vance, a bestselling author and conservative U.S. senator from Ohio, portrayed themselves as representing America’s Midwestern heartland with deeply opposing views on pressing national issues.

Throughout the debate, both candidates aimed to land a significant blow in their last encounter before the November 5 presidential election, discussing topics like the Middle East crisis, immigration, taxes, abortion, climate change, and the economy. However, they primarily focused on a demonstration of “Midwestern nice,” even as they challenged each other’s respective running mates.

Vance consistently questioned why Harris had not taken more action to address inflation, immigration, and the economy during her time in the Biden administration. “If Kamala Harris has such great plans for middle-class problems, then she ought to implement them now,” he stated. While he effectively targeted Harris, he also made misleading statements regarding gun violence and the U.S. climate record.

Walz countered by labeling Trump as an unstable leader, criticizing him for prioritizing the interests of billionaires and for undermining a bipartisan border security bill earlier in the year. “Most of us want to solve this,” he said regarding immigration, pointing out that Trump had promised quick solutions during his presidency.

The debate began with a discussion of the escalating crisis in the Middle East, as Israel continued its assaults on Lebanon and Iran retaliated with missile strikes. Walz described Trump as “fickle,” while Vance defended Trump’s record, asserting that he made the world more secure during his presidency.

Political analysts suggest that vice presidential debates generally do not sway election outcomes, and neither candidate landed a decisive blow on Tuesday. However, with the race extremely tight five weeks before Election Day, even a minor shift in public opinion could prove crucial.