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Walz-Vance debate reaction: Who came out on top? Hear what the experts had to say

Northeastern political observers say the evening was much more “run-of-the-mill,” civil and policy-focused compared to the pair of presidential debates.

Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz squared off in a vice presidential debate hosted by CBS News Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York. AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Sen. JD Vance squared off Tuesday evening in what experts say was much more “run-of-the-mill,” civil and policy-focused debate compared to the pair of presidential clashes that set a strikingly different tone for the 2024 election.

“This was much more of a standard debate, each candidate trying to reorient each question to their benefit in the usual ways,” says Nick Beauchamp, associate professor of political science at Northeastern University.  

“Both candidates kept the focus on the top of the ticket, which makes sense,” says Costas Panagopoulos, distinguished professor of political science at Northeastern University, adding that the pair appeared “very well prepared.” 

“Walz repeatedly touted some of his own accomplishments as governor, which will likely be perceived by voters as being more experienced and better prepared to be a heartbeat away from the presidency,” Panagopoulos says. “Vance hardly mentioned his own record at all, to the extent he has one given his limited tenure in public service.”

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Who do you think won the Walz-Vance debate? Political experts say that J.D. Vance dominated for the majority, but Tim Walz landed some strong remarks, especially toward the end. #Election2024 #VicePresidentDebate #TimWalz #JDVance #KamalaHarris #Trump #Debate #Election #Vote #Voting #PoliticalScience

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The debate was hosted by CBS News in New York City. Questions were directed at each candidate, with two minutes to respond and two minutes for rebuttal. Each candidate received an additional minute for clarification. Rather than proceed with microphones, as was the case with the two presidential debates, CBS News kept them on, but reserved the right to mute them in order to “maintain decorum.”

Tuesday’s debate was the final faceoff between the presidential and vice presidential candidates during the 2024 election. It caps one of the more eventful presidential debate cycles to date, one that saw President Joe Biden’s exit from the race following the first presidential debate in June, and subsequently Harris’ rise to a formidable position at the top of the ticket.  

The debate also comes amid an intense escalation of fighting in the Middle East after an Israeli ground incursion into southern Lebanon precipitated a barrage of missile strikes from Iran at Israel. 

For that reason, the Middle East was the first topic. Both candidates were asked if they would support a preemptive strike on Iran from Israel. Walz, getting off to a slow start, didn’t seem to give a straight answer, using the opportunity to attack Donald Trump instead: “When Iran shot down an aircraft in international airspace, Donald Trump tweeted.”

Vance similarly deflected back to the top of the ticket, noting that Iran is now closer to a nuclear weapon than ever before. He added: “It is up to Israel what they think they need to do to keep their country safe, and we should support our allies.”

It would become a theme of the night: each of the candidates opting to attack their respective running mates rather than each other.

Predictably, the topic of immigration led to one of the longest exchanges of the evening, sparked by the question of whether Trump’s proposed mass deportation plan would separate undocumented immigrant adults from their U.S.-born children.

Vance attacked Harris’ record on the border, then Walz attacked Vance for joining the Republican vote to kill a bipartisan border bill — and for pushing stories about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio.

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