Minnesota Governor Tim Walz struggled during Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate, displaying visible nervousness and missteps, while his opponent, Ohio Senator JD Vance, delivered a composed and “lawyerly” performance that many believe secured his victory.
The debate, hosted by CBS News, was notably civil compared to the contentious presidential debates earlier in the year, with both candidates agreeing on multiple topics and avoiding personal attacks.
However, Walz, 60, who is known for his “folksy” campaign style, appeared uneasy from the start, frequently wringing his hands and misspeaking during key moments.
In response to the opening question about supporting an Israeli pre-emptive strike on Iran, Walz mistakenly referenced “the expansion of Israel and its proxies” instead of Iran’s proxies. His response was vague and left unanswered, while Vance, 40, confidently stated that he would support Israel in such a decision.
Walz’s nervousness persisted, leading to another gaffe when discussing gun control. He mistakenly said, “I’ve become friends with school shooters,” when he meant to refer to victims of shootings. Vance, in a sympathetic response, acknowledged Walz’s personal connection to a shooting at a Minnesota community center involving his son.
The most memorable blunder came when Walz was asked about false claims regarding his presence in Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Walz admitted to having “misspoken” and referred to himself as a “knucklehead,” which quickly became the night’s standout moment. His rambling response failed to clarify the issue, while the moderators pressed for further explanation.
In contrast, Vance, who entered the debate with lower favorability ratings, seized the opportunity to showcase his calm demeanor and policy knowledge. He skillfully discussed topics such as abortion, border security, and pro-family policies. One of his strongest moments came when he shared a personal story about a loved one who had an abortion, using it to highlight the GOP’s focus on family support and fertility treatments.
Throughout the debate, Vance appeared confident and at ease, even when challenged by the moderators on his position regarding a proposed federal abortion ban. He acknowledged Ohio’s pro-abortion rights referendum outcome and emphasised the need for Republicans to regain public trust.
Political commentators widely declared Vance the winner of the debate. Pollster Frank Luntz found that 12 out of 14 undecided voters in a focus group believed Vance beat Walz. Analysts noted Walz’s nervousness and lack of media preparation as key factors in his uneven performance, while Vance’s extensive interview experience since joining Donald Trump’s ticket helped him navigate the forum with poise.
Despite the rare moments of tension, the debate remained largely cordial, with Vance praising some of the Harris-Walz campaign’s policy proposals but questioning why they had not been implemented during Harris’s time in office.
Tampon Tim just told America he’s become friends with School Shooters
This is the worst VP Debate performance in American History
pic.twitter.com/A6qjiYgmvd— Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) October 2, 2024
We all know JD Vance mopped the floor with his opponent at the VP Debate. It wasn’t even close. pic.twitter.com/b2ma1esHe7
— Damani Felder (@TheDamaniFelder) October 2, 2024
All that matters is what kind of flimsy BS excuses they’ll start cooking up at midnight on election night.
Everything else is theatre.
I cannot help wondering if there will actually be a US election on 5th November:
We already have a massive hurricane laying waste to areas of the US (in GOP rural areas), the ports are now closed because of a strike and Israel is being attacked by Iran.
Will the ‘deep state’ use this as pre-requisite to call off the election, perhaps decare a ‘state of emergency’?
This all feels like a 100-meter Olympic sprint where we are at the final 5 meters and whomever can stick their chest out just that little bit more gets the camera finish.
Did he have his tampon in?
Tim Buttiplug?
Not hard to defeat walz he’s a commie
Walz saying “He has friends who are school shooters” didn’t gain points. Then “Sometimes I’m a knuckle head” didn’t help either.
While at a rally “We can’t take 4 more years of this” not realizing THEY were in charge the last 4 years. 😂😂😂
While at a rally “We can’t take 4 more years of this” not realizing THEY were in charge the last 4 years. 😂😂😂
PRICELESS! 🤣
They have been campaigning like were the opposition.
https://slaynews.com/news/top-financial-expert-charles-nenner-warns-end-american-empire-imminent-urges-investors-stocks-buy-gold/