VP debate live updates: Vance thrived on stage while Walz struggled to find his footing

Vance and Walz had a relatively civil debate even over hot-button issues like abortion, the economy, immigration, gun control and more

JD Vance has his mic cut as VP candidates spar over immigration

Ohio Senator JD Vance appeared more confident, polished and prepared than Minnesota Governor Tim Walz during the vice presidential debate in New York City.

In the refreshingly calm debate, Vance spread falsehoods about immigration and refused to admit his running mate, Donald Trump, lost the 2020 election, yet he managed to outperform Walz.

Vance gave a noticeably softer performance than usual and rarely wavered in his responses – even when confronted with his past comments about Trump and his recent false claims about immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.

Meanwhile, Walz struggled to find his footing, he appeared nervous and unsure in some of his answers. The Democratic vice presidential nominee got more comfortable in the 90-minute debate, but his even-keeled answers failed to outshine some of Vance’s.

Democrats reportedly privately voiced concerns that Walz could underperform in the debate because of his tendency to get heated while defending his record in office. However, he did not live up to that expectation.

The most heated moment of the debate was when moderators were forced to cut the vice presidential nominees’ microphones because the two candidates sparred over immigration.

Key Points

• Who won the vice presidential debate?
• Vance appeared more confident than Walz during debate
• JD Vance has his mic cut as VP candidates spar over immigration
• Vance refuses to admit Trump lost 2020 election
• Moderators confront Walz on Tiananmen Square protest attendance

[2 October 2024 00:30 · Mike Bedigan]

JD Vance has changed his name several times. Here’s why

JD Vance is currently one of the most well-known names in US politics. However, the Ohio Senator has run through several iterations throughout his lifetime.

Vance was as born James Donald Bowman in in Middletown, Ohio, in 1984, having been given the name of his biological father, Donald Bowman. His mother’s maiden name was Beverly Vance.

His childhood nickname was J.D., which he explained was pronounced “like ‘jay-dot-dee’” in his best-selling 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy.

Vance’s parents officially divorced when he was six years old, which he described as “the saddest I had ever felt,” in his book. He also described a “revolving door of father figures.”

After the divorce, Vance took the name of his mother’s third husband Bob Hamel, and his middle name was changed to David – that of one of his uncles – preserving his childhood nickname JD.

[2 October 2024 00:15 · Oliver O'Connell]

JD Vance is debating Tim Walz for an ‘audience of one’

In their first and likely only debate, Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance will be performing against his Democratic rival Tim Walz for an audience of one: Trump himself.

That’s according to Vance’s one-time opponent Tim Ryan, the former Democratic congressman who lost a critical 2022 Senate race in Ohio against the Republican venture capitalist.

Ryan, among the only elected officials with experience on a debate stage with Vance, told NPR that Vance will likely turn “very aggressive at trying to frame the Harris-Walz ticket as super extreme, super out of touch.”

“They’ll be blamed for everything and the world’s going to end if they get elected,” Ryan said. “He’ll be hitting that hard because he has an audience of one, and that’s Donald Trump.”

Alex Woodward reports.