Cillizza Responds To Walz Social Media Post
Senator JD Vance (R-OH) and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz took to the debate stage Tuesday night in what was an unexpectedly civil affair, given their well-documented personal disdain for one another. The two vice-presidential candidates managed to keep the tone relatively tame, but beneath the politeness, the political battle lines were clearly drawn. And while the debate might not have devolved into personal attacks, it was a particularly good night for Republicans, with JD Vance delivering a standout performance that left many liberals scrambling for damage control.
It’s the fourth quarter. No timeouts left. We have the ball.
Let’s win this. https://t.co/QTPoha06Vw pic.twitter.com/tIdeN7vyro
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) October 2, 2024
Vance, despite claiming some nervousness post-debate, appeared anything but. He was in full command of the facts, displaying a keen ability to navigate tricky questions and deliver concise, targeted critiques of Walz and the Democratic platform. His strategic engagement with Walz’s record was effective, leaving his opponent on the defensive for much of the evening.
Why did you waste all your time outs before the final 2 minutes!
Bad clock management
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) October 2, 2024
On the other side, Walz appeared flustered at several key moments. While he had flashes of coherence and delivered a few lines effectively, his overall performance was marred by inconsistency. A major stumbling block came when Walz falsely claimed he was in China during the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The fact that this fabrication had already been debunked in a 2019 interview made the moment all the more damaging. It was a blunder that Walz struggled to recover from, further highlighting his lack of preparation for some of the evening’s toughest questions.
Dems are fortunate presidential debates tend to matter a lot more than VP debates.
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) October 2, 2024
One of Vance’s most effective tactics was tying the Harris-Walz ticket directly to Joe Biden and his policies. By pointing out that nothing the Democratic pair offered was new or innovative, but merely a continuation of Biden’s presidency, Vance was able to highlight the failures of the current administration. On issues like the economy and climate change, particularly in the context of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, Vance remained focused and sharp, managing to pivot skillfully when necessary.
For people who insisted JD Vance is a terrible communicator, the first 15 minutes of this debate would suggest they are wrong.
He has been calm, smooth and knowledgeable
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) October 2, 2024
A particularly memorable moment came when Walz made an awkward and deeply cringeworthy statement about being “friends with school shooters” during a discussion on gun control. It was a gaffe that only added to the perception that Walz was floundering, while Vance remained poised and in control. On topics like trade, the economy, and working-class issues, Vance pressed Walz effectively, underscoring the Democratic candidate’s lack of tangible solutions.
Josh Shapiro is earning more positive media than money can buy.
There’s this idea that he should have been the VP nominee and was only denied because of anti-semitism. So when Kamala loses, he will be the man people look to and say, “sorry we skipped you, please run now” https://t.co/eCEToKbuxj
— Ryan James Girdusky (@RyanGirdusky) October 2, 2024
Even CBS’s Norah O’Donnell, who moderated the debate, couldn’t ignore the fact that voters still favored Donald Trump when it came to managing the economy, a moment that underscored the weakness of the Harris-Walz ticket. Vance’s performance, while not overly aggressive, consistently pushed Walz off balance, exposing weaknesses in his policy positions and campaign strategy.