Following a tense hour and a half of debate between Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, and Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R), former president Donald Trump's running mate, on Tuesday night, many Americans reacted with mixed feelings about the candidates' performances and their responses to key issues in the upcoming election.
The debate maintained a strong atmosphere of politeness and sportsmanship throughout, with microphones only being cut once during a heated exchange between Vance and moderator Margaret Brennan. The dissension occurred when Brennan fact-checked a misleading statement Vance made about Haitian migrants in Springfield. Vance's interruptions led to a brief rebuttal from Walz, but both microphones were muted shortly thereafter, allowing Brennan to transition to the next topic.
Instant polls conducted by CNN, CBS and Politico/Focaldata immediately after the debate reveal a nearly even split among viewers regarding who “won,” with some polls showing a slight lean toward Vance.
Many statewide and local elected officials from Ohio praised Vance for his performance during the debate. Some also took the opportunity to share links to voter registration sites, urging their followers to get involved and participate in the electoral process.
After the debate, presidential candidates Trump and Harris, along with incumbent President Joe Biden, took to X to address key issues raised by each party. These included Trump’s stance on a federal abortion ban, Harris’ views on Israel, affordability in the middle class and concerns about foreign manufacturing impacting American jobs and the economy.
Here’s what some key political figures from Ohio, along with the candidates themselves, shared about the first — and likely only — VP debate.
