Perspective with Jack Tame: Between Vance and Walz, it's clear who won the debate

It was civil. It was somewhat thoughtful. It was focused for the most part on policy.  

It was, frankly, a novel experience to be watching a modern U.S political debate that didn't immediately descend into petty name calling, insults, conspiracy theories, hyperbole and lies.

I thought JD Vance was much better than Tim Walz. If these things are to be scored, then he was the winner for me.

He didn't throw around insults in the same way that he has on the campaign trail, which I thought was an interesting strategic approach. I thought he did a really good job of presenting as smart and reasonable, and as a steady partner of a more chaotic running mate.

I also thought he was humane in a way that Trump never is. Tim Walz talked about his 17-year-old witnessing a shooting, and JD Vance let him speak - and immediately responded in a decent way. I didn't know, he said. I'm really sorry.

For the most part, Tim Walz, wasn't terrible. He made that weird gaffe where it sounded as though he said something about becoming friends with school shooters, and he just didn't look as fresh, self-assured, and slick as JD Vance.

His best moment was directly asking Vance if he believed Trump won the 2020 election... Vance gave a classic politician answer, said he was 'focused on the future'.

What does it mean for the race? Not heaps. There was more to lose tonight for the respective campaigns than there was to win. It might translate to a wee bump in support, a few more voters shoring up their decisions - but more than anything, for Team Trump, it's probably the first bit of momentum in the right direction for the best part of six weeks.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It was civil. That's the word that keeps popping up.
I thought it was pretty thoughtful. Actually, it was focused
for the most part on policy. It was frankly a
novel experience to be watching a modern US political debate
that didn't immediately descend into petty name calling, insults, conspiracy theories, hyperbole, lies, etc.

(00:23):
I thought jd Vance was much better than Tim Waltz.
If these things are to be scored, I know everyone
always wants a winner and a loser. It was simple
for me then jd Vance was the winner. He didn't
throw around insults in the same way that he has
on the campaign trail, which I thought was an interesting
strategic approach, and I just thought he did a really
good job of presenting as smart and reasonable and as

(00:46):
a steady partner of a more chaotic running mate. I
also thought there were moments in the vice presidential debate
in which he was humane or came across as humane
in a way that Donald Trump never really does. Tim
Waltz at one point was talking about how his seventeen
year old had witnessed a shooting, and JD. Vance looked

(01:10):
at him, let him speak, and immediately responded in a
really decent way. He said, I didn't know. I didn't
know about this. I'm really sorry that your child had
to experience that. You know, for the most part, I
don't reckon Tim Watz was terrible. You know. He made
a bit of a weird gaff where it sounded as
though he kind of said something about becoming friends with

(01:31):
school shooters, like he obviously just got his words confused.
But that was a bit weird. And then there was
some stuff around some comments he'd made suggesting he'd been
living in Hong Kong at the same time as Tieneman
Square that turned out not to be true. And I
just didn't think he looked as fresh. He certainly wasn't
hisself as sured, and he certainly wasn't as slick as
Jade Vance. His best moment was directly turning to Vance

(01:55):
and asking if Vance believed Donald Trump won the twenty
twenty election, and of course Jads immediately did that classic
politician answer and said, you know, I'm focused on the future,
So what does it mean for the race? Are not heaps?
I think there was probably more to lose tonight for
the respective campaigns than there was to win. You know,
it might translate to a we we bump and support

(02:18):
maybe a few more voters suring up their decisions. But
more than anything I reckon for Team Trump. It is
probably the first bit of momentum in the right direction
that that campaign has enjoyed for the best part of
six weeks. For more from Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, listen
live to news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays,

(02:41):
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.