By Emma Kavcioglu

On Tuesday, October 1, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Senator JD Vance had their first, and likely last, Vice Presidential Debate in New York. CBS News hosted the debate, moderated by seasoned journalists Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan about a month after Vice President Harris and former president Donald Trump faced off in their first presidential debate. 

At the beginning of the debate, both candidates volleyed responses back and forth about the Middle East, specifically the war in the Gaza Strip. Governor Walz insisted that it was vital that Israel defend itself while concluding with the assertion that the situation in the Middle East would become more dangerous if former President Trump was reelected. Senator Vance responded by claiming that Trump becoming president would make the Middle East more secure like he had done in the past through sanctions. 

Then the candidates transitioned to the topic of climate change. Walz advocated that Harris’s administration would increase green energy production, and Vance responded by claiming that the best solution to climate change is investing in renewable energy sources and that investment comes under the Trump administration. 

Following the ad hominem attacks that were present in the presidential debates, small moments in the vice presidential debate gave viewers at home hope for civility in future presidential debates.  One of the moments, in particular, was when Governor Walz expressed that his 17-year-old son was a witness to a shooting at a local community center. Instead of firing an attack, or even moving on to his response, Senator Vance expressed a sincere apology to Walz for what his son went through and expressed his sympathies for the trauma that the shooting must have caused his son. Although the debate had its clash and hostility, it was refreshing to see the candidates attempting to treat each other like human beings rather than political pawns. 

Despite the underlying tensions and disagreement throughout the debate, it was refreshing to see the candidates attempting to engage with each other as human beings rather than merely as political opponents. The shift in tone offered a glimmer of hope for a more respectful political discourse in future debates if not between presidential candidates, then at least with the vice presidential candidates.

According to a live CBS poll, following the debate, 42 percent of debate watchers felt Vance won the debate, as opposed to the 41 percent who thought Walz. This close margin reflects the intensity of the discussion and the different opinions on the candidates’ positions, setting the stage for a competitive election next month.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, both candidates are likely to face scrutiny, not only for their debate performance but also for their policies and how they resonate with the American people.