With the November election fast approaching, the Democratic and Republican parties are in a fierce battle to win over voters. On Tuesday, October 1st, Senator JD Vance of Ohio and Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota faced off in a heated debate. During the crucial debate, both parties sparred over abortion, immigration, the economy, and foreign policy.
Throughout the debate, JD Vance managed to prove himself as a defensive candidate for his party’s policies, as well as his running mate, former President Donald Trump. Vance was more favorable among many viewers due to the straightforwardness with which he spoke about his views, as well as the attacks from the other side. However, he has gained more controversy as opposed to Tim Walz because of his sometimes controversial solutions to problems like immigration, national security, and the economy. Part of his controversy revolves around him amplifying a myth that Haitian immigrants are eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, which greatly contributed to more than 30 bomb threats on schools in the town, causing the evacuations of thousands. For the main part of the face-off, Vance pressed for more strict immigration control on all borders of the United States, and blamed the current administration for various national failures, such as inflation, drug trafficking, and the loss of jobs.
Meanwhile, Democratic Governor Tim Walz had a more shaky appearance, but still strongly spoke to people to remind them about the accomplishments of his party and his running mate, current Vice- President Kamala Harris. At the beginning of the debate Tim Walz was seen stumbling often, as well as making a few mistakes that might have confused some viewers. However, towards the end of the clash when the discussion changed to abortion and health policies, he significantly gained a lead. Even if Tim Walz’s start was rocky, he was confident in his argument on social justice, healthcare reform, and climate change action, adding and emphasizing that the current administration had already gone far into repairing the areas after the previous administration, and if elected, would continue to improve it.
Throughout the debate, there were only occasional moments where Vance and Walz attacked each other personally. Many critics note that the debate was similar to those before Trump ran for office in 2016, much less aggressive than the presidential debate in early September. During the vice presidential debate, Vance attempted to paint Walz as dissociated with the economic realities that Americans face, to which Walz responded in emphasis on the importance of stopping unfound claims. Walz also attacked Vance on what he previously wrote in his op-ed, where he said “Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office”. However, Vance defended his current stance and how Donald Trump would address all the issues that face Americans right now.
During the debate, there was a sharply heated discourse between two candidates and their separate parties. It gave many viewers and future voters an idea of what to expect from Trump and Harris, as well as the vice president picks. It allowed voters to understand where each of these two stand in terms of important issues, thus making a cognizant decision come election day that will define America, and it’s future.
