Following the heavily criticized second presidential debate on Sept. 10, the vice-presidential debate between Ohio senator JD Vance and Minnesota governor Tim Walz addressed the nation on Oct. 1.
Vance is the author of the popular memoir titled “Hillbilly Elegy,” which was adapted for screens in 2020. The memoir details his life in a working-class family and how it felt to return to his Kentuckian “hillbilly” hometown after graduating from Yale. Several times throughout the debate, it was brought up that he was raised in a working-class family, whereas Walz grew up in a predominantly middle-class family.
At the most heated moment in the debate, about 30 minutes in, both vice-presidential nominees had to have their mics cut. Otherwise, it passed with both candidates respectfully hearing the other out. There were multiple points in the debate where both candidates agreed on certain topics.
Popular topics of the debate included inflation, climate change and carbon emissions, immigration policies, the housing crisis and abortion. Another popular topic was the recent increase in school shootings. Vance claimed that if Trump were elected president, he would help enact policies that would increase locked doors and windows in schools, and increase the number of school resource officers (SROs).
Like the presidential debate in early September, the candidates discussed the connotations of presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Walz being gun owners themselves, which went along with the school shooting section of the debate. A common stereotype for Democratic candidates is that they’re against guns and owning them, though Harris has frequently brought up during her campaigns that she herself is a gun owner.
A common theme was Vance blaming Harris for the amount of “illegal aliens” who were coming to the southern border. He claims that if former President Trump is re-elected, they will continue building the wall between Texas and Mexico and will take back jobs from illegal immigrants. This, in turn, would help our economy and the housing crisis by making more houses and jobs available for legal citizens. Walz countered, asking if the Trump administration would be willing to split up illegal immigrants and their legal children, who Vance called “drug mules.”
On both sides, accusations were made that were factless. There was one point in the debate where Walz fumbled, having claimed that he was in China during the Tiananmen Square protests in Hong Kong, but his statement was later confirmed to have been false, thus discrediting him.
In the closing statements, Walz thanked several celebrities and politicians who have endorsed him and Harris in recent months, including Taylor Swift. Walz was seen wearing a friendship bracelet at the debate; shortly after Swift’s endorsement, the Harris-Walz campaign released friendship bracelets much like the ones traded at Swift’s Eras Tour this past summer. Walz stated before asking for a vote for Harris, “Senator Vance tonight made it clear he will stand with Donald Trump’s agenda. He will continue to push down that road… Kamala Harris gives us a different option.”
In Vance’s closing remarks, the Ohio senator thanked Walz, CBS and the American citizens who watched the debate for their time and consideration, sharing an anecdote about his childhood in Kentucky. He stated that on some winter nights, his grandma couldn’t afford to turn the heat on, and as a “rich and prosperous enough country,” American citizens should be able to heat their homes. He stated that it’s because of Harris’s energy policies that it is more difficult. He continued to blame Harris for some American families being unable to afford a nice meal or a house. Vance claimed that Harris has had “1,400 days” to make a change, and the U.S. requires one; the U.S. requires someone who has already done the job and “done it well.”
Considering the opinion of both nominees in their closing statements, it is now the citizens of our nation’s duty to vote.
