VP debate live updates: Vance thrived on stage while Walz struggled to find his footing

JD Vance has his mic cut as VP candidates spar over immigration

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Head shot of Eric Garcia

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

Vice presidential rivals JD Vance and Tim Walz met for their first and probably final debate in New York City on Tuesday night, with the Republican appearing more confident, polished and prepared than his Democratic counterpart, who nevertheless landed some important blows.

In a refreshingly calm contest, the two men kept things civil, opted for policy over personal attacks and even found common ground at times.

Vance delivered a noticeably softer performance than usual and rarely wavered in his responses – even when confronted over his past comments about Trump and his recent lie about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, eating residents’ pets.

Walz meanwhile struggled to find his footing, appearing nervous and unsure in some of his early answers, but got more comfortable as the 90-minute showdown progressed and did well pressing the Ohio Senator on abortion, January 6 and Trump’s ongoing election denialism.

“The winner needs to be the winner,” the Minnesota Governor declared.

“This has got to stop. It’s tearing our country apart.”

The most heated moment of the night came when the moderators were forced to cut the candidates’ microphones as they sparred over immigration.

Vance also expressed annoyance at being fact-checked.

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Analysis: It took nearly 90 minutes, but Walz made clear exactly why Trump chose Vance

Let’s take a broader view of this thing.

First up, here’s Andrew Feinberg on Vance proving his worth to the man he once suggested might just be “America’s Hitler”.

Joe Sommerlad2 October 2024 11:20

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CNN anchors interrupted by dog puppet dressed as Vance’s late grandmother

“Oh boy, this is how you know it’s almost 1am,” sighs Dana Bash as co-anchor Jake Tapper introduces Robert Smigel’s Triumph the Insult Comic Dog in the early hours of the morning.

Joe Sommerlad2 October 2024 11:00

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Trump needs to ‘speak less’ and pass the mic to Vance, veteran pollster says

The Republican running mate was so good last night, in the opinion of GOP pollster Frank Luntz, he should do all of Trump’s talking for him.

Whether you agree with that assessment or not, one person who certainly will not like it is Donald J Trump himself.

With both sides inevitably claiming victory, here’s Mike Bedigan’s report on who won the vice presidential debate.

Joe Sommerlad2 October 2024 10:40

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I joined Democrats at a VP debate watch party. The vibes in the room were telling

A world away from poor John, Eric Garcia watched the action in Arlington, Virginia, last night, where the mood among the Democrats surrounding him shifted from silent to celebratory as Tim Walz gradually found his feet and got in some timely jabs.

Joe Sommerlad2 October 2024 10:20

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A night out with the edgelords: Watching the Walz-Vance debate with DC’s young MAGA mob

There were more fireworks in the Dirty Water bar in Washington DC last night – where the local Young Republicans chapter had gathered to watch Vance and Walz duke it out – than there were on the debate stage, writes poor old John Bowden, who had the grave misfortune to be there.

Joe Sommerlad2 October 2024 10:00

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Harris, Biden and Obama cheer Walz after debate

Here’s how Kamala Harris and the 46th and 44th presidents reacted to last night’s encounter in New York.

Joe Sommerlad2 October 2024 09:40

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Snap polls after VP debate reveal what voters think of Vance and Walz’s performances

The general consensus among network pundits from both sides of the political aisle last night was that the Ohio Senator came across as more confident, polished and well-prepared than his Democratic rival.

But, according to a CBS/YouGov flash poll of 1,630 voters who tuned into the VP clash, it was an almost even match.

James Liddell has this report.

Joe Sommerlad2 October 2024 09:20

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Walz celebrates with slice of sausage pizza after debate

While JD Vance remained in the spin room talking to the media in the aftermath of last night’s encounter, Tim Walz and his wife Gwen huddled with their team before stepping out for pizza.

Here he is leaning into his “coach” persona to sum up the evening:

Joe Sommerlad2 October 2024 09:00

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Watch: The VP debate highlights, as chosen by the candidates

Here’s a look back at the night’s key exchanges according to JD Vance and Tim Walz themselves, judging by the excerpts they chose to post on their social media accounts.

These are the moments the Republican was most pleased with…

…and here are the Democrat’s personal favourites.

Joe Sommerlad2 October 2024 08:40

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Trump live-trolls debate and brands Walz ‘Low IQ Disaster’

Despite making a fool of himself at his own debate against Kamala Harris in Philadelphia last month (“In Springfield, they’re eating the dawgs!”), Trump was on crowing form on Truth Social as he spent his evening posting along to the Vance-Walz showdown.

This is the sort of high-calibre meme he’s been firing out.

Other notable posts from the Republican nominee included his claim that “JD crushed it!”, his angry all-caps denial that he would support a federal abortion ban and his leaping on Walz for misspeaking about gun violence.

Here’s Mike Bedigan’s report.

Joe Sommerlad2 October 2024 08:20