The sole vice presidential debate between Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz was held in New York on October 1, 2024, moderated by CBS News journalists. The event highlighted the stark political differences between the two candidates, focusing on key issues such as immigration, the economy, and gun violence, while maintaining a respectful tone throughout.
Public Opinion on the Debate Winner
In the aftermath of the debate, a common question on social media has been who won the face-off between the vice presidential candidates. This comes especially after many analysts in September crowned Kamala Harris as the victor in her debate with Donald Trump. According to polls conducted by USA TODAY, YouGov, and CNN on Tuesday, JD Vance was declared the winner. Experts consulted by The Boston Globe also leaned slightly in favor of Vance. However, both candidates faced criticism for sharing misleading statements or ones that required further context.
Immigration: A Hot-Button Issue
The immigration crisis in the United States was one of the most fiercely debated topics. JD Vance blamed Kamala Harris for exacerbating the crisis, arguing that her reversal of Donald Trump’s policies led to an increase in illegal immigration. Vance proposed a return to Trump-era immigration policies, including building a wall along the Mexican border and deporting illegal immigrants, prioritizing those with criminal records.
On the other hand, Tim Walz defended a bipartisan immigration law, which he claimed to be one of the strictest in the country. He criticized Republicans for blocking the legislation at Trump's behest, stressing that building a wall would not solve America’s immigration issues.
Economic Strategies and Social Issues
The candidates also clashed on how to tackle the nation's economic problems, reflecting their parties' ideological divides. JD Vance claimed that Trump worked in a bipartisan manner to preserve Obamacare, a statement that Tim Walz quickly corrected by noting that Trump actually tried to repeal it from day one, only to be thwarted by the Supreme Court.
Walz promised economic assistance for homebuyers and the construction of three million new homes, whereas Vance suggested using federal lands and limiting access for illegal immigrants as solutions to the housing crisis.
Additional topics such as abortion, childcare, and gun violence were also discussed. JD Vance expressed sorrow over gun violence in the U.S., attributing it to illegal trafficking and the Biden-Harris border policy. He proposed increasing school security, arguing that disarming criminals is not a realistic solution.
Debate Tactics and Evasion
Both candidates often dodged specific questions, choosing instead to attack the opposing party leaders, namely Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. This tactic left some viewers frustrated by the lack of direct answers to pressing issues.
Looking Ahead to the Elections
This vice presidential debate is just one component of the electoral process leading up to the November 2024 elections. Both campaigns have agreed to three debates in total: two presidential and one vice presidential. Kamala Harris has agreed to a second debate with Donald Trump, though the Republican leader has expressed that he sees no need for it, claiming he "won the previous one."