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Generally, vice presidential debates aren’t well watched and aren’t likely to have much impact on the outcome of presidential elections. This week’s debate between Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance isn’t likely to affect the outcome of the Nov. 5 election much either.
Tuesday night’s debate, however, was somewhat remarkable for a couple reasons. First, it was mostly civil. Walz and Vance began and ended the debate with a handshake. They chatted with one another after the debate was over. Vance expressed compassion when Walz spoke of his son Gus witnessing a shooting. Both Walz and Vance highlighted areas where they agreed with one another.
These are pretty small gestures to qualify as civil, but in a campaign where the hallmark of one candidate — Donald Trump — is incessant name calling and mocking, the behavior and demeanor of the vice presidential candidates stood out. It was a brief, refreshing throwback to a time when candidates could disagree without being disagreeable.
The vice presidential debate, which included strict rules and no audience, was not without its heated moments and both candidates took pointed jabs at the presidential candidates, Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Yet, they mostly treated one another with respect.
Second, and this is a sad statement on the presidential race, Tuesday’s debate was more substantive than other debates we’ve seen so far. Jabs were made and talking points were repeated, but Vance and Walz also outlined visions, if not actual plans, in a number of areas, including foreign policy, housing and reducing health care costs.
They disagreed with one another at numerous times, but they did not demean one another.
Contrast that with the behavior of Trump, who continues to repeat debunked lies and hurl insults toward and make demeaning comments about Harris, the Democratic nominee for president.
Trump has recently doubled down on ludicrous claims that Harris is “mentally disabled” and has been since birth. He’s made fun of her name, her voice, her laugh. This, along with hundreds of other insults and threats from Trump, is certainly unpresidential. It should also be disqualifying in the eyes of American voters.
Walz and Trump in their debate, the only one between the vice presidential candidates, set a somewhat better standard by criticizing the policies and plans of the opposing ticket, rather than demonizing one another.
There were frustratingly too many nonanswers, especially from Vance on whether he believes Trump lost the 2020 election. Vance sidestepped this question, saying he was “focused on the future” and then talked about censorship. Vance has said that he would not have voted to certify the 2020 presidential election results until the states had submitted a different set of electors. Continuing to believe that the outcome of the last presidential election is in question should also be disqualifying for any candidate seeking to serve in the White House.
Walz largely dodged a question about a false claim that he was in Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in China, which now controls Hong Kong. He eventually but insufficiently said he misspoke and that he was in China and Hong Kong during the democracy protests.
Overall, the vice presidential debate set a much higher standard for political exchanges than last month’s presidential debate. If Trump could follow the lead of his running mate Vance and act with more decorum, a second debate between he and Harris could be beneficial to American voters who will soon be casting their ballots.
