Republican Sen. JD Vance and Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz faced off in a lively vice presidential debate, addressing a range of issues including gun control, foreign policy, and former President Trump's claims of election fraud.
Following their vice presidential debate in New York City, Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio and Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz hit the campaign trail with stops in Pennsylvania and Michigan, two crucial battleground states.
Pundits generally agreed that Vance came across as more polished during the debate, though flash polls indicated a divided audience on who emerged victorious. However, an accidental remark by Walz sparked controversy and went viral.
Vance and Walz Engage in Heated Debate, Sparring on Policy and Trump's Allegations
During a discussion on assault weapons, Walz stated, "I've become friends with school shooters." He later clarified that he was referring to his association with David Hogg, a leading gun control activist and school shooting survivor. Walz acknowledged that he should have been more specific.
Vance, upon learning of Walz's comment, mocked him during a rally in Michigan, referring to it as "probably only the third- or fourth-dumbest comment Tim Walz made that night."
Vance and Walz Engage in Heated Debate, Sparring on Policy and Trump's Allegations
The debate also saw Walz confronted on his claim to have been in Hong Kong during the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing. Walz admitted to traveling to Asia in August 1989, several months after the April 15 massacre, acknowledging his mistake.
Trump, in an interview following the debate, praised Vance's performance and criticized Walz, calling the latter's comments "embarrassing."
Vance and Walz Engage in Heated Debate, Sparring on Policy and Trump's Allegations
Vance sidestepped a question during the debate about whether President Biden won the 2020 election over Trump, reiterating his focus on the upcoming election and his desire to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris.
Walz emphasized the importance of acknowledging Biden's 2020 victory, stating that "it is disqualifying to not acknowledge that the 2020 election was won by Joe Biden."
Vance and Walz Engage in Heated Debate, Sparring on Policy and Trump's Allegations
During his rally in York, Pennsylvania, Walz charged that Trump supporters were trying to "rewrite history." Vance, when questioned, defended his avoidance of answering the 2020 election question, claiming that the media was overly preoccupied with the past.
Vance and Walz's post-debate swings through battleground states represent an intensification of their campaign efforts. Vance visited both Michigan and Ohio, while Walz traveled to Arizona, Nevada, California, Washington, and Ohio.
Vance and Walz Engage in Heated Debate, Sparring on Policy and Trump's Allegations
Michigan and Pennsylvania, along with five other key states, played a pivotal role in Biden's 2020 victory and will likely determine whether Trump or Harris wins in 2024.
