In the TV debate of the vice-presidential candidates in New York on CBS, Tim Walz and JD Vance dueled on everything but faced each other in a civil manner and polite, sometimes even agreeing with each other and cordially shaking hands even after the face to face, with the wives on stage.
No memorable or knockout blows, in a fairly boring debate. But the senator from Ohio with a Yale degree appeared more at ease, more confident, more fluid in his speech, presenting himself as a cultured and educated version of Trumpism and managing to make the tycoon’s recipes more palatable. While the governor of Minnesota was more awkward, more nervous, more worried about reeling off all the talking points learned by heart rather than pressing his opponent.
For both it was an opportunity to present themselves to the general public, as well as to attack the legacy of Trump and the current Biden-Harris administration. Neither responded to the first question, whether they supported a pre-emptive Israeli attack on Iran. Vance limited himself to saying that “the choice is Israel’s and that we must support allies wherever they fight the bad guys”, recalling that Trump has guaranteed peace. Walz instead denounced that at this moment the world does not need an almost eighty-year-old who talks about the size of the crowds at his rallies.
Among the most controversial issues are immigration and abortion. The tycoon’s deputy accused Harris of the open border policy that favors drug cartels and the invasions of millions of illegal immigrants, as in Springfield, Ohio, where illegals put pressure on public services. But he was corrected with a fact-check by the hosts (“prejudiced ladies” for Trump), who reminded him that the Haitians living in Springfield – who he falsely accused of eating residents’ pets – have a legal status. Walz instead accused him of “defaming and dehumanizing migrants”. On abortion, Vance denied that the Dems had a radical position but recognized that the Republicans must work hard to earn the trust of American voters. “I want us as a Republican Party to be pro-family in the fullest sense of the word. I want us to make it easier for moms to afford to have babies,” he said, reiterating Trump’s line (confirmed with a real-time post) that he is against a national ban and in favor of leaving the decision to the states. Walz responded by saying that the Democratic view on abortion is simple: “We’re pro-women. We’re pro-freedom to make your own choices.” Also at odds on healthcare, where, however, Walz did not seize the opportunity to deny and attack his rival when he passed off Trump as the savior of Obamacare. Harris’ deputy managed to embarrass him when he tried to rewrite the history of the assault on the Capitol, but Vance dribbled away. As for the threat to democracy, the Ohio senator then warned, “the real one is not what the Democrats talk about but that of censorship”, including “big technology companies that silence their fellow citizens”.
Both have made a mea culpa: Vance for being “wrong” about Trump when he criticized him, even as a possible American Hitler, Walz for having “expressed himself badly” when he said he was in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen uprising. The only moment of unity was when the governor of Minnesota said that his 17-year-old son witnessed a shooting and the tycoon’s deputy expressed his solidarity.