Walz-Vance debate: Candidates tangle in wide-ranging debate

The matchup could have an impact on critical undecided voters.

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Last updated: Wednesday, October 2, 2024 4:04AM GMT
Walz, Vance face off in vice presidential debate
Vice presidential candidates Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance squared off for the first and only time this election season.

Vice presidential candidates Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance squared off for the first and only time this election season.

Unlike the last two presidential debates, the candidates appeared to be more cordial. However, both running mates criticized the presidential candidates on a host of issues including gun violence, reproductive rights, immigration and climate change.

Walz appeared to have nerves in the opening of debate, but went on the attack as the night went on. Vance took aim at Harris and her policies and pushed Trump's policies.

This combination image shows Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, left, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, right, during a vice presidential debate hosted by CBS News, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York.
This combination image shows Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, left, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, right, during a vice presidential debate hosted by CBS News, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York.
AP Photo

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
ABCNews logo
Oct 02, 2024, 2:07 AM

Fact Checking the debate

FACT CHECKS OF THE DEBATE | Vice presidential debate fact check: Claims made by Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance

Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz participate in a vice presidential debate.
Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz participate in a vice presidential debate.
ABCNews logo
Oct 02, 2024, 1:39 AM GMT

Vance not backing down from Springfield, gets his microphone cut

Vance did not attempt to walk back or apologize for his baseless claims about Haitian migrants Springfield.

While he didn't repeat his most egregious falsehoods that the migrants are eating pets, Vance continued to state they were illegal -- which they are not.

After the CBS moderator tried to move onto the economy, Vance repeatedly interrupted her. They then cut his microphone.

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Oct 02, 2024, 1:37 AM GMT

Vance sidesteps answering if Trump thinks climate change is a hoax

Walz said Trump has called climate change a hoax and then "joked that these things would make more beachfront property to be able to invest in."

Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz participate in vice presidential debate hosted by CBS News Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York.
Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz participate in vice presidential debate hosted by CBS News Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York.

In referencing those remarks, the moderator asked Vance if he agreed. Vance did not directly answer, instead responding that Trump has said that if Democrats believed that climate change is serious, they would be increasing energy production in the U.S. "and that's not what they're doing."

He also said Democrats use clean energy as a "slogan."

ByMonica Potts FiveThirtyEight logo
Oct 02, 2024, 1:34 AM GMT

Vance's Appalachia controversy

Vance often evokes his personal connections to Appalachia, as he did just now talking about Hurricane Helene's devastation of the region. But there's more than a bit of controversy over this. While his grandparents were from Southeastern Kentucky, Vance himself grew up in Middletown, Ohio, as was the subject of his memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis." Middletown itself is a small city of about 50,000 between Cincinnati and Dayton, far from Appalachia.

Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, speaks during a vice presidential debate hosted by CBS News, with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York.
Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, speaks during a vice presidential debate hosted by CBS News, with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York.

For his part, Walz was born in a small town in Nebraska - West Point, a town of about 3,500 - and has spent most of his career representing or living in the Midwest.

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Oct 02, 2024, 1:31 AM GMT

Walz defends Harris' immigration record

In response to Vance's criticism of Harris' immigration policy, Walz brought up the fact that Congress had a plan to address the migrant issue before Trump pushed Republicans to drop their support.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a vice presidential debate hosted by CBS News, with Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a vice presidential debate hosted by CBS News, with Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in New York.

"Pass the bill, she'll sign it," Walz said.