Mel Rising Dawn Cordeiro
News Editor
The vice presidential debate has historically served as a critical platform for candidates to define their positions, showcase their readiness for office, and provide voters with insight into the potential future leadership of the country. As the 2024 election looms, the stakes have never been higher, and the recent vice presidential debate highlighted key issues that resonate with the electorate.
This highly anticipated debate between Republican candidate JD Vance and Democratic candidate Tim Walz was a civil and relatively restrained conversation about the issues America cares most about. Each candidate spent more time attacking the other’s running mate than the other, though each expressed a sense of empathy; Vance apologized to Walz when Walz said that his son witnessed a shooting and both expressed sympathies to the victims of Hurricane Helene.
Unlike the Trump Harris debate, Vance and Walz were able to talk about more than just immigration. Vance advocated for tax cuts and deregulation to spur economic growth, while Walz emphasized the importance of social programs and equitable policies to support marginalized communities. Each candidate was also asked about times when they verbally misrepresented themselves or their running mate.
It was agreed upon at the beginning of the debate that there would be no fact-checking while the debate was going on. During the discussion on migration, Vance was commenting on the immigration population of Springfield, Ohio when a moderator clarified that there are a significant number of Hatian immigrants in Springfield with temporary protected status. Vance interrupted, saying that he thought there was going to be no fact-checking, but “since you are fact checking [me], it’s important to say what’s actually going on.” Vance then explained how the CBP application works to aid immigrants in applying for asylum and parole. NPR later fact-checked the claims both candidates made.
There were several moments when both candidates agreed with each other on issues and were open about it. This became evident when they discussed gun control. Each candidate did their fair share of dodging questions, though the most notable one, which turned into a vigorous disagreement, came when Vance was asked if Trump lost the last presidential election. Vance dodged the question and instead criticized what he said was Kamala Harris’s censorship. Walz quickly noted that Vance gave a “damning non-answer” and said that denying the January 6th insurrection “has got to stop” as it is “tearing our country apart.”
After a shaky start on Walz’s part, both candidates finished strong. Vance may have had the upper hand in debating style speaking, as he has had to navigate press conferences as the governor of Ohio, but Walz quickly relaxed. Neither candidate misrepresented their party and both were mostly civil and respectful. At the conclusion of the debate, both candidates and their spouses could be seen lingering on stage, shaking hands and talking. Hopefully, this example of bipartisanship will be a positive example for the American public and politicians alike.
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