Voters don’t usually make up their mind based on a presidential candidate’s running mate. That’s why the mission for most candidates in a vice presidential debate is to avoid mistakes while making the boss look good.
But Tuesday’s vice presidential debate was different in that it will likely be the final time the two major party campaigns will face off in person before Election Day.
Here are five takeaways from last night’s vice presidential debate between Republican U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio and Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
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WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
JD Vance delivered a debate performance that many Republicans had hoped Donald Trump would have done last month. His answers were smooth and — most of all — focused. When faced with sharp questions about Trump’s record, he shifted the focus back to Harris. His best moment came during his answer on abortion, an issue where Trump has struggled to maintain a consistent message. “We’ve got to do so much better of a job at earning the American people’s trust back on this issue,” he said.
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IT’S NOT HOW YOU START, BUT HOW YOU FINISH
Tim Walz got off to an uneven start. He stumbled a little while explaining why he had falsely claimed he had been in China during the Tiananmen Square protests (“I … misspoke on this,” he said.) But Walz got stronger as the debate went on. His best moment came near the end when he asked Vance directly if Trump won the 2020 election, a question that Vance did not answer. “Will you keep your oath of office even if the president doesn’t?” Walz asked.
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SURPRISINGLY RESPECTFUL
For the most part, both Vance and Walz avoided personal attacks. Multiple times, the two men said they agreed with each other on various issues. When Walz said his son witnessed a shooting at a community center while playing volleyball, Vance stopped to offer his condolences. The two men also shook hands and spoke with each other when the debate concluded.
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GEORGIA WAS EVERYWHERE
Georgia’s 16 electoral votes may very well decide this election, and the two candidates spent a significant amount of time discussing issues specific to the peach state. Vance and Walz both weighed in on the tragic case of Amber Thurman, the Georgia woman who died while waiting to receive an abortion. And they debated gun policy in light of the fatal school shooting at Apalachee High School.
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BARBS, WITH A SIDE OF SOFTNESS
Vance and Walz both threw plenty of punches. But they tried to sprinkle in moments of humanity to showcase their softer sides. Vance repeatedly mentioned he was the father of “three beautiful little kids” and referenced his upbringing by his grandmother in Ohio. Walz said he grew up in rural Nebraska, a town where “you rode your bike with your buddies until the street lights turned on.” It was a subtle way to introduce themselves to voters who have been focusing on the top of the ticket.