It was a battle royal between two Midwestern politicians, both vying to be vice president of the United States.But Tuesday’s debate between Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance was overshadowed by events unfolding in the Middle East, where – hours earlier – Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles in response to Israel’s deadly attacks in Lebanon and Gaza.
“There will be consequences,” Walz, a Democrat, said of Iran’s actions. The Republican candidate Vance, meanwhile, underscored the unwavering US support for Israel.
“It is up to Israel what they think they need to keep their country safe, and we should support our allies wherever they are when they’re fighting the bad guys,” Vance said.
The debate marks one of the last major milestones in the US presidential race. Hosted by CBS News in New York, the event arrives a mere five weeks before election day on November 5.
It will also likely be the first and only time Vance and Walz confront one another on stage, not to mention the final debate of the 2024 election cycle.
With the race hurtling towards a nail-biting finish, each candidate tried to make the case for why their ticket should emerge victorious. Vance, the running mate for Donald Trump, argued his candidate would bring “common sense” to the White House.
Meanwhile, Walz played up Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and her track record of “steady leadership”, while attacking Trump as a chaotic force.
Here are five key takeaways from Tuesday’s debate.
Law enforcement stood outside the vice presidential debate venue in New York on October 1 [Juli …
