- Author, Anthony Zurcher
- Role, North America correspondent
- Twitter,
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Tuesday night vice-presidential debate between Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz dey okay as dem limit di conversation to issues wey dey di top of American voters minds wey go vote for di 5 November election.
Dia debate no be like dat of di two presidential debates wey hold earlier dis year.
Di two men no attack themselves too much but dem spend more time to attack di oda pesin running mate during di 90-plus minutes debate on CBS News stage for New York.
Walz bin get shaky start but e begin dey hit di point wen e begin tok about abortion and di Capitol riot.
But di even-tempered, policy-focused debate, plus few political body blows, serve Vance – wey be polished public speaker – best for di end.
If dem choose Vance sake of say e put ideological meat on di bones of Trump conservative populism, on Tuesday night e put polite, humble face join.
“Something dis guys dey do na say dem dey make plenty claims about if Donald Trump become president, all of dis terrible consequences go happun,” e tok. “But in reality, Donald Trump bin serve as president. Inflation bin dey low. Salary bin dey higher.”
Moments dey wen di Republican candidate object wetin e reason say be unfair fact-checking from di two CBS moderators, and at one point, dem temporarily mute di microphones of both candidates.
But for di most part, di exchanges on stage dey normal.
And plenty moments dey wen di two men agree on issues – and dem say so.
“Lot of commonality dey for here,” Walz tok toward di end of di evening.
Wen Walz tok say im 17-year-old witness shooting for one community center, Vance bin look genuinely concerned.
“I dey sorry about dat and I hope say e dey OK,” e tok. “Christ have mercy, e dey horrible.”
Cordial – but e get few clashes
Di disagreements wey hot pass bin happun toward di end of di debate, and na on di topic of Trump repeated and false claims say dem rob am of di 2020 election.
Wen di host ask Vance, if Trump lost di last presidential election, e dodge di question and criticise wetin e tok say be Kamala Harris censorship.
Walz quickly note say na “damning non-answer”.
“To deny wetin happun on January 6, wey be di first time an American president or anyone go try overturn election. dis need to stop,” e tok. “E dey tear our kontri apart.”
Walz add say di only reason Mike Pence, Trump former vice-president, bin no dey on stage na bicos e certify President Joe Biden victory.
Vance bin no get ansa to dat, e say beyond im friendly character and agreeability, im no go break from Trump position.
Vance and Walz bin enta dis debate wit different skill sets. Vance don fight wit journalists on television during heated exchanges. Walz dey at home on di campaign stump, using im folksy style in contrast to more polished politicians.
For di early part of dis debate, as both candidates stand behind podiums for one New York City television studio, Vance bin look much more comfortable. Im answers dey smooth, and e focus on-message, e bin constantly dey remind di audience say for all of Vice-President Kamala Harris promises, Democrats don dey di White House for di past three and a half years.
“If Kamala Harris bin get such great plans on how to address middle class problems, den she suppose dey do dem now,” e tok.
Walz, on im part be like say e dey pause and no too dey sure on di opening topic. E bin focus on Tuesday Iranian missile attack on Israel and on if di candidates go support an Israeli pre-emptive strike on Iran.
Di Minnesota govnor bin no too tok about foreign policy, and im discomfort on di subject dey clear.
Two different styles
Vance and Walz bin enta dis debate wit different skill sets. Vance don fight wit journalists on television during heated exchanges. Walz dey at home on di campaign stump, using im folksy style in contrast to more polished politicians.
For di early part of dis debate, as both candidates stand behind podiums for one New York City television studio, Vance bin look much more comfortable. Im answers dey smooth, and e focus on-message, e bin constantly dey remind di audience say for all of Vice-President Kamala Harris promises, Democrats don dey di White House for di past three and a half years.
“If Kamala Harris bin get such great plans on how to address middle class problems, then she suppose dey do dem now,” e tok.
Walz, on im part be like say e dey pause and no too dey sure on di opening topic. E bin focus on Tuesday Iranian missile attack on Israel and on if di candidates go support an Israeli pre-emptive strike on Iran.
Di Minnesota govnor bin no too tok about foreign policy, and im discomfort on di subject dey clear.
Di Democrat bin settle in as di debate dey go on, and during im exchanges wit Vance on di topic of immigration – one area of strength for di Republicans – both of dem deliver good messages.
Vance reject di accusations say e loud false claims say, Haitian immigrants dey tiff and eat pets for Ohio.
“Di pipo I dey worry about mostly for Springfield, Ohio, na di American citizens wey dia lives don spoil sake of Kamala Harris border policies,” e tok.
Vance tok say undocumented migration dey burden city resources, drive up prices and push down wages.
Walz bin point to Trump opposition to proposed bipartisan immigration legislation earlier dis year.
“I believe Senator Vance wan solve dis, but by standing wit Donald Trump and not working togeda to find a solution, e don become talking point, and wen e become talking point like dis, we dehumanise and villainize oda human beings.”
Wen di topic turn to abortion rights – one area of strength for Democrats, according to polls – na Vance play di defence, e agree say Republicans need to do more to earn di trust of American voters.
“I want make we be pro-family as Republican for di fullest sense of di word,” e tok. “I want make we make am easier for moms to afford to have babies. Many tins dey wey we fit do on public policy front just to give women more options.”
Walz counter am and say di Democratic view on abortion dey simple: “We be pro-women. We be pro-freedom to make your own choice.”
If Walz bin dey more pointed on abortion, e no gree attack wen di subject turn to gun control.
Afta Vance tok say e dey important to increase security for schools, make doors and windows “stronger”, Walz bin tok about background checks instead of endorsing Democratic calls for bans on assault weapons plus oda limitations on firearms.
As a congressman, Walz dey regularly vote in favour of gun rights and against many gun control measures. E win di praise of di pro-gun National Rifle Association. During di debate, e say im views on gun control change afta di 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, but some Democrats fit dey disappointed say e no press Vance neck more on Tuesday night.
Dis go impact di race?
American political history suggest say vice-presidential debates no dey
For 1988, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen bin scata Republican Dan Quayle. Few months later, Quayle bin dey sworn in as vice-president afta im ticket win for landslide victory.
E fit turn out say dis debate go dey similarly irrelevant to November results. Unless dem announce anoda last minute debate. However, e go be di last word both parties get on a debate stage before Election Day.
Walz no do any harm to di Democratic ticket and e show some of di midwestern charm wey make am Harris choice.
But Vance strong performance dey likely to lift Republicans in days days ahead.
Plus di debate lasting impact fit be to convince members of im party say di Ohio senator – wey just be 40-year-old – get future for national conservative politics, wit im ability to clearly advance dia ideological priorities on di brightest of stages.
